Visiting Chinese top national advisor Jia Qinglin set forth a four-point proposal in Montevideo Thursday for the promotion of Sino-Uruguayan relations.  

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), put forward the proposal at meeting with Uruguayan President Tabare Ramon Vazquez Rosas.

The four-point proposal is as follows:

l         To intensify political coordination and increase mutual trust. Maintain the exchanges of high-level visits while further increasing exchanges and strengthening cooperation.

l         To promote economic and trade cooperation and strive for common development. Accelerate bilateral cooperation and improve trade structures based on the current good cooperation to further develop the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

l         To strengthen cooperation and support each other on international affairs, and join hands in safeguarding the common interests of different countries, especially those of the developing countries.

l         To expand non-governmental exchanges and promote mutual understanding. Increase exchanges in the areas of culture and art and among different social strata so as to lay a solid social foundation for the development of bilateral relations.

President Vazquez said he fully agreed to Jia's proposal, saying that the Uruguayan government is willing to promote the further development of the relations between Uruguay and China and exchanges between parties of the two countries, and strengthen cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, education and investment.

Uruguay is also ready to enhance communication and coordination with China on international affairs in a joint bid to promote world peace and development, Vazquez said.

The Uruguayan president reiterated his government's one-China policy, saying it is Uruguay's consistent policy to further develop its friendly ties with China.

During the meeting, Jia said that China highly appreciates the one-China policy upheld by the present and previous Uruguayan governments and is willing to work with the new Uruguayan government to further promote their friendly cooperation.

Both China and Uruguay are developing countries, Jia noted. China always commits itself to developing Sino-Uruguayan relations from the perspective of strengthening cooperation between China and Latin America and intensifying south-south cooperation.

Jia pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, relations between China and Uruguay have been developing steadily, with increasing exchanges and cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, culture, science and technology.

Jia also met with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Reinaldo Gargano Thursday and exchanged views with him on furthering Sino-Uruguayan relations and strengthening economic and trade cooperation.

Jia arrived here Wednesday from Bogota for an official goodwill visit to Uruguay after concluding his visit to Colombia. Uruguay is the last leg of his four-nation visit to Latin America.

(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2005)