China and Uruguay should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, and deepen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, finance, agriculture and animal husbandry, infrastructure construction and information and communications technology, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

During talks with Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi in Beijing, Xi called on both sides to explore the potential for cooperation in emerging fields including green development, the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI) and clean energy, so as to drive economic growth and transformation.

Xi said China and Uruguay should continue to firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns.

The two countries should strengthen friendly exchanges at all levels and across all areas, enhance exchanges of experience in governance and continuously deepen strategic mutual trust, he added.

Xi said China supports Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries in upholding their sovereignty, security and development interests, adding that China has always valued its relations with LAC countries.

China also supports Uruguay in assuming the rotating presidencies of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), and stands ready to work with Uruguay and other regional countries to further promote the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future, Xi said.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of more than 10 cooperation documents covering investment, trade and other fields.

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(With input from Xinhua)