China, Uruguay issue joint statement on establishing comprehensive strategic partnership

China and Uruguay on Thursday issued a joint statement on establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Considering the great potential of the two countries in expanding and deepening friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation, China and Uruguay have decided to upgrade bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, according to the statement.

Both sides stress the importance of mutual political trust, and pledge to support each other in their respective core interests and major concerns, the statement said.

Both sides reiterate their commitment to promoting the development of their free trade partnership and are willing to advance dialogue on a China-Southern Common Market free trade, the statement said.

China and Uruguay agree to promote Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen the industrial chains between the two countries to promote trade and services supply, it said, adding that the Uruguayan side reiterates the principle of technological neutrality and welcomes Chinese enterprises to participate in its 5G network construction.

The two countries agree to further expand the scale of trade by promoting the diversification of export commodities, expanding trade in services and strengthening cooperation in trade facilitation, it said.

Noting that China and Uruguay are both developing countries, they agree to jointly safeguard the legitimate interest of developing countries, and maintain close coordination in multilateral institutions.

Both sides also agree to expand cooperation in the field of education, increase the number of scholarships for study and research, as well as collaborate in the teaching of Chinese language in Uruguay, according to the statement.