In 2021, the strategic partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay continued to advance profoundly.
The two countries maintained exchanges at various levels and continued to deepen political mutual trust. Major political parties in Uruguay expressed warm congratulations to the CPC on its 100th anniversary. In July, NPC Chairman Li Zhanshu held virtual talks with Vice President, President of the General Assembly and President of the Senate Beatriz Argimón. In November, CPPCC Vice Chairperson Bater held a virtual meeting with Vice President of the Senate Sebastián Da Silva. In September, President Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou attended the Global Trade in Services Summit of the 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services and gave a video address. In July, Vice President, President of the General Assembly and President of the Senate Beatriz Argimón attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair.
Bilateral cooperation against COVID moved steadily ahead. In April, Chinese companies provided vaccines for CONMEBOL at the request of Uruguay, contributing to a successful Copa América. Chinese provinces including Henan and Jiangxi had anti-COVID experience-sharing meetings with Uruguay via video link.
The two countries achieved fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation. Cooperation in such fields as trade, economy, infrastructure and finance saw good progress. Two-way trade recovered steadily, and China remained Uruguay's largest trading partner and biggest export destination. In 2021, China-Uruguay trade reached US$6.48 billion, a 59.2 percent increase year on year. In May, the contract of the 500kV Transmission Loop Closure Project in Uruguay was officially signed with the Chinese company that won the bidding. This is the first large-scale bilateral turnkey project under the framework of China-Uruguay Belt and Road cooperation. In September, the BRICS New Development Bank officially announced the accession of Uruguay among the first batch of new member states.
The two countries maintained sound communication and coordination in the UN, the China-CELAC Forum and other international organizations and multilateral institutions. In December, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the third Ministers’ Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, which Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo Bonasso attended virtually.
People-to-people and cultural exchanges were diverse. Outstanding Chinese film, TV, literary and artistic works were broadcast in Uruguay. Events such as competitions on Taiji and Chinese language and the “China's innovation” photo exhibition were successfully held with both virtual and in-person participation, and were warmly received across the country. Exchanges and cooperation at local levels remained close.