China's top national advisor Jia Qinglin arrived in Montevideo Wednesday for an official goodwill visit to Uruguay.

In a written statement released upon his arrival, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the exchange and cooperation between the CPPCC and the Uruguayan congress are an important part of the Sino-Uruguayan relations and are playing an active role in promoting the friendship between the two peoples.

During his visit, Jia is expected to meet with President Tabare Ramon Vazquez Rosas, Vice President and President of the Uruguayan National Congress Rodolfo Gustavo Nin Noboa and other officials to exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern as well as experience in economic and social development.

In the statement, Jia expressed the belief that his visit will boost exchanges, increase mutual understanding, deepen friendship and promote cooperation, thus making a new contribution to consolidating and further developing the long-standing, stable and mutually beneficial cooperative ties between the two countries.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 17 years ago, the two countries have increased mutual understanding and friendship, and expanded exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, science and technology and culture as well as on international affairs, Jia said.

Facts have proved that strengthening cooperation between China and Uruguay is conducive to their common development and conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, he said.

Jia arrived here from Bogota after concluding his visit to Colombia. Uruguay is the last leg of his four-nation tour of Latin America. He has already visited Mexico and Cuba.

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2005)