China announced in Montevideo on Monday that Uruguay will become a new tourism destination for Chinese citizens.

This was announced following a meeting between Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, and President of Uruguay Tabare Vazquez in the Uruguayan capital.

An official with China's Foreign Ministry said that the Chinese government had approved the move months ago after negotiations with the Uruguayan government and the two governments agreed to release the decision during Wu's visit to Uruguay.

The two countries' tourism authorities will start discussions on detailed arrangements following the announcement.

Uruguay follows Brazil, Chile, Peru, Argentina and Venezuela in becoming another tourism destination for Chinese citizens in South America

Statistics showed that in 2005, the number of outbound Chinese tourists reached 30 million.

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2006)