Uruguay concludes its participation in CIIE 2025, reaffirming its position as a reliable partner for China

Uruguay concluded its participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2025, consolidating its image as a reliable partner and quality supplier in the Chinese market.
Over six days, the country showcased the best of its production, identity, and export capacity in Shanghai, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and bilateral cooperation in a year when Uruguay and China celebrate 37 years of diplomatic relations.
Both countries maintain a strategic partnership that has strengthened cooperation in trade, investment, culture, and science, consolidating Uruguay as a trusted partner within China’s policy of openness towards Latin America.

The opening of the pavilion was attended by Valeria Csukasi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with diplomatic authorities and institutional representatives. Her presence reaffirmed the Uruguayan government’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties and promoting the country internationally.

“This new edition of CIIE allowed us to strengthen ties and open new doors for Uruguayan companies. Uruguay is a country with a solid, traceable, and competitive offering that the Chinese market increasingly values,” said Martín Mercado, Deputy Executive Director of Uruguay XXI.

During the fair, the Uruguay pavilion received a visit from an official delegation led by Chen Jing, Vice President of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai People’s Congress and President of the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Chen, who holds a PhD in Economics and is an associate professor, highlighted the value of cooperation between the two countries and Uruguay’s potential as a strategic partner in the region.

A showcase of quality, culture, and identity

The Uruguay pavilion served as a meeting point for business, tradition, and culture. Visitors admired Uruguayan amethysts—intensely violet stones considered among the finest in the world—mined in the north of the country and highly valued for their purity and brilliance. These large, naturally striking pieces captured the attention of buyers and the general public, reinforcing Uruguay’s reputation as an international benchmark in precious stones.

The pavilion also featured a tasting of Uruguayan wines, with a special focus on the Tannat grape variety, a national symbol that places Uruguay among the most renowned wine regions in the Southern Hemisphere. This varietal, known for its deep and elegant character, reflects the identity of a traceable, sustainable wine industry recognized internationally for its quality.

The artistic component had its moment with a tango dance performance, an expression deeply rooted in Uruguayan identity. Born in the working-class neighborhoods of the Río de la Plata at the end of the 19th century, tango blends African, Creole, and European influences. It has since conquered the world and was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
During CIIE 2025, dancers captivated audiences with performances of classics such as La Cumparsita, the iconic composition by Uruguayan Gerardo Matos Rodríguez, regarded as the country’s cultural anthem. The show generated great enthusiasm and became one of the most photographed moments at the pavilion, showcasing Uruguay as a country with a vibrant and sophisticated culture.

The Uruguayan wool industry also featured prominently in the pavilion. Uruguay is among the world’s top five exporters of wool and tops, and its production is recognized for traceability, sustainability, and technical excellence. Visitors viewed samples of fine wool tops, the result of a process that combines centuries-old tradition with technological innovation. They also learned how Uruguay integrates environmental and animal welfare certifications, along with low-impact industrial processes powered by renewable energy.
Uruguayan wool products reach the most demanding markets—such as China, the European Union, and Japan—and are used by international fashion and design brands. Their quality, origin, and commitment to sustainability position Uruguay as a key player in the global high-value textile industry.

Positive balance and commercial projection

Uruguay’s participation in CIIE 2025 formed part of a broader agenda of activities in China, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Before the fair, Martín Mercado, Deputy Executive Director of Uruguay XXI, took part in the 18th China–LAC Business Summit, one of the main forums connecting China, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
In this context, Uruguay XXI signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) offices in Hainan, Dalian, and Ningbo.
These agreements establish cooperation frameworks in trade and investment and promote future collaboration mechanisms between the institutions, aimed at strengthening bilateral economic exchanges and business opportunities.
Meetings were also held with Chinese and Latin American trade promotion organizations (TPOs), attended by delegations from the municipal governments of Montevideo, Canelones, and Florida, as well as INAC, all part of the official mission.

Since 2015, China has remained Uruguay’s main export destination, accounting for 27% of total exports so far in 2025.
Over the past five years (2020–2024), bilateral trade has grown by 66%, reaching a total exchange of US$5.5 billion, with Uruguayan exports up 50% and imports from China doubling.
Uruguay’s export basket consists mainly of soybeans, cellulose, beef, meat by-products, wool, precious stones, and wood—products that strengthen its profile as a reliable supplier of high-quality goods.

Currently, around 26 Chinese companies operate in Uruguay across sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals, logistics, technology, and automotive, including ChemChina, Huawei, ZTE, Chery, and COSCO. Their presence reflects an increasingly diversified and sustained relationship between both countries.

A coordinated and long-term presence

Uruguay’s participation was organized by Uruguay XXI, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Uruguay in China, and the Consulate in Shanghai.
The National Meat Institute (INAC) also presented its own stand under the Uruguay Beef sector brand, reinforcing the country’s image as a responsible and competitive producer.

Uruguay’s participation in CIIE 2025 concluded a week of intense institutional and commercial activity in which the country showcased its productive and cultural diversity to thousands of visitors.
With strong coordination between the public and private sectors, Uruguay reaffirmed its position as a trusted, long-term partner for China—a country that brings together productive excellence, innovation, and a distinctive national identity.