China, Uruguay pledge to cement ties as vice president visits Beijing

China and Uruguay on Friday pledged their efforts to seek a stronger relationship as Uruguay's Vice President Danilo Astori visited Beijing.

"Despite the long distance between the two countries, Chinese and Uruguanyans share good feelings for each other," top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo told Astori at the beginning of their hour-long meeting.

Astori ,also President of National Congress of Uruguay and President of Senate, arrived last Sunday for a week-long visit to China. He is leading a delegation of officials from industry, transport and banking departments and 18 entrepreneurs.

China-Uruguay ties have developed smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1988, Wu said, adding bilateral cooperation have reaped good harvests and generated substantial benefits to both nations.

Bilateral trade hit 867 million U.S. dollars in the first half of this year, up 61.7 percent over the same period last year, according to Chinese Customs.

As developing countries, both China and Uruguay enjoy a good momentum of development, Wu said. "The two countries face a promising prospect for cooperation in trade and economy, science and technology, culture, education, among others."

Astori appreciated China for helping his country with economic and social development.

Looking to the future, Wu said China would like to deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation with Uruguay and usher in a new era of bilateral ties.

Wu called for the legislative bodies of both countries to increase exchanges, strengthen communication and play a bigger role in boosting bilateral ties.

Astori said his country will learn from China's success story in seeking economic growth and step up bilateral cooperation in politics, trade, economy and culture.

Earlier Friday, Astori said at a business forum that his country welcomed more Chinese companies to do business there.

Source: Xinhua