Uruguay is pursuing its international integration strategy with an official mission to China, led by President Yamandú Orsi and running through February 7. The visit includes political, business, and institutional meetings focused on strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade, attracting investment, and increasing cooperation in key areas for Uruguay’s development.
China remains Uruguay’s largest trading partner and a strategic market for future growth. The relationship between the two countries is based on economic complementarity and nearly four decades of diplomatic ties. The current mission aims to achieve concrete long-term results at the state level.
In an interview with Chinese news agency Xinhua, President Orsi stated that relations between Uruguay and China “continue to move toward closer ties,” highlighting a broad consensus across Uruguayan political parties on the importance of deepening this relationship.
A significant event during the mission was a high-level summit on February 3 between Presidents Yamandú Orsi and Xi Jinping at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. This meeting marked the 38th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Uruguay and China. Following the summit, delegations from both countries signed several agreements and memoranda covering investment promotion, meat exports, science and technology cooperation, environmental initiatives, fisheries management, intellectual property rights, emergency management, and communication.
President Orsi reiterated his government’s commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with China. He expressed Uruguay’s intention to “take it to a new level,” focusing on diversifying goods trade, expanding services, and attracting investment. He also emphasized Uruguay’s institutional stability and its regional role in South America and Latin America. President Xi Jinping described a “natural affinity” between both peoples and called for deeper cooperation in traditional sectors as well as emerging fields such as green development, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and clean energy.
The mission included trade promotion activities along with academic and scientific cooperation events. The Uruguayan business delegation participated in events organized jointly by Uruguay XXI and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. These efforts are designed to strengthen Uruguay’s presence in China’s market while identifying new business opportunities.
Recent economic data highlights the importance of this bilateral relationship: In 2025, China was again Uruguay’s main export destination with shipments totaling USD 3.493 billion—26% of total exports—and nearly 12% growth over 2024 levels. China accounted for most of Uruguay’s soybean exports (86%), was the leading buyer of pulp products, and remained one of the top markets for Uruguayan beef. On imports, China supplied diversified industrial goods including machinery and technology.
Chinese foreign direct investment continues to grow in strategic sectors within Uruguay such as meat processing, agribusiness logistics, telecommunications infrastructure, energy production—including projects related to energy transition—and other technological fields.
This official visit forms part of Uruguay’s broader plan to boost international integration by generating new trade opportunities, promoting scientific collaboration, attracting investment flows into key industries like technology or clean energy production sectors—all aimed at supporting sustainable economic growth. Throughout this week-long mission period in China led by President Orsi—with ongoing support from organizations like Uruguay XXI—the country seeks to further consolidate its partnership with China through additional cooperation initiatives.
