MONTEVIDEO, Jan. 20 -- Uruguay's Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa highlighted Friday the levels of scientific cooperation his country enjoys with China during his visit to China's Great Wall Antarctic research station.

The closeness and good relations that the staff and scientists of the two countries enjoy has allowed the bilateral relation to deepen, said Nin Novoa in a statement.

The Uruguayan foreign minister, who is also in Antarctica to visit Uruguay's Artigas science research station, held a meeting with the staff of the Chinese base where he was introduced to the projects being developed there.

Nin Novoa recalled that Uruguay and China signed a memorandum of understanding during the visit of Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez to Beijing in October 2016, which includes scientific exchanges linked to research in Antarctica.

Uruguay's relationship with China is steadily advancing, said Nin Novoa.