Jiang Shixue,
Professor at Macau University of Science and Technology,
03/02/2026
Despite the American concern over the development of bilateral relations between China and Latin America, China will welcome Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi, who arrived in China on February 1 for a week-long state visit, marking a milestone in a relationship hailed as a model of South-South cooperation based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation between a big country and a small country. President Orsi is the first Latin American leader to visit China in 2026.
As President Orsi said in an interview with a Chinese media, “the grand mansion of good relationship between Uruguay and China is not built within one day…And, every agreement signed and every cooperation reached adds a new brick to the edifice of the relationship”. Indeed, the relations between the two countries has been nourished with devotion and contribution by both sides since 1988, the year they established diplomatic relations.
Over the past 38 years, relations between the two countries have been developing smoothly and rapidly. They promote exchanges at various levels and support and respect each other in international affairs. The Uruguayan government firmly adheres to the One-China policy. In 2001, they established a partnership called “long-term, stable, and mutually beneficial friendly cooperative relationship”. In October 2016, this partnership was upgraded to “strategic partnership”, and in November 2023, it was further raised to “comprehensive strategic partnership”.
Particularly, economic relations have been moving forward rapidly. When the two countries set up diplomatic relations in 1988, the two-way trade was a little more than US$100 million. By 2024, it reached to US$ 6.6 billion, with a balance in favor of Uruguay. China exports manufactured goods as Uruguay’s industry is not well developed. Uruguay sells primary products to China. This win-win outcome benefits from the comparative advantage and complementarity of the two countries. As a matter of fact, China has become the biggest trade partner for Uruguay.
Based on a cultural agreement signed in 1988, cultural exchanges have also been developing rapidly. Chinese acrobatics, Peking opera, puppetry, and other performing arts have performed in Uruguay. Exhibitions such as the “Chinese Peasant Paintings Exhibition” and the “Exhibition on the History of Chinese Civilization” have been held in Uruguay. Famous Uruguayan artists such as guitarists, pianists, and soprano singers have been invited to perform in China.
Starting from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2026, holders of ordinary passports from Uruguay, along with Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru, can enter China visa-free for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, exchange visits, or transit for up to 30 days. This friendly gesture by China will definitely promote people-to-people exchanges between the two side.
In 2026, Uruguay holds the rotating presidency for the Group of 77 (G77) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). China has good ties with G77 and CELAC. Therefore, Uruguay’s presidency will further contribute to China’s multilateral diplomacy as President Orsi has signaled his intent to use these platforms to promote regional integration and multilateralism.
It is interesting to note that, on January 15, U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea seized another sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela, part of a broader U.S. effort to take control of the South American country’s oil. A few days later, on January 20, a Chinese Navy hospital ship, which is on the Mission Harmony 2025, arrived at the port of Montevideo, Uruguay, for a four-day technical stop. This marks the first visit by a Chinese naval vessel to Uruguay.
The U.S. hijacked a sovereign nation’s property, and China sent a hospital ship for friendly exchanges with a Latin American country. Isn’t it a vivid contrast?
But it must be pointed out that the journey by China’s navy hospital ship was planned several months or even one year ago. Therefore, the visit was not a reaction to the U.S. action.
As China’s third Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), published in December 2025, points out, “The China-LAC relationship does not target or exclude any third party, nor is it subjugated by any third party. It meets the fundamental interests of the two sides and the trend of our times featuring world peace, development, cooperation and win-win.” Let’s hope that the U.S. will not obstruct the development of China-Latin America ties. As a matter of fact, China’s investment in and trade with Latin America is good for the U.S. It is easy to understand that a more prosperous Latin America will reduce illegal migration and drug trafficking flowing into the U.S.
