
Uruguay sees China as a ‘strategic partner’ and has kept good relations with Beijing since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1988, said Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro, a former ambassador to China from 2007-2009. Almagro made the statement as Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping begun his official visit to Uruguay.

China’s Vice-president Xi Jinping and tipped as a leading candidate to succeed President Hu Jintao will be visiting Uruguay June 7 to 9 as part of a tour that includes Italy, Cuba and Chile.