Uruguayan president meets Chinese president's envoy on bilateral ties

Uruguay's president Tabare Vazquez Rosas on Friday held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao's envoy on further improving bilateral ties.

Wang Guangtao, also Chinese Minister of Construction, conveyed a letter from Hu to Vazquez, the rotating president of the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) during the talks.

Mercosur, the most important regional organization for economic integration in Latin America, has made great achievements in boosting cooperation, promoting economic and social development and advancing the integration process in South America, said Hu in his letter.

China always values China-Uruguay and China-Mercosur ties and is ready to make efforts to deepen all-around cooperation in various fields and achieve the objectives of mutual benefit and common development, said Hu.

Hu also invited Vazquez to visit China next year in his letter.

China and Uruguay are good friends of mutual trust and good partners, said Hu, adding that the two countries have enjoyed steady development in bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations 17 years ago.

For his part, Vazquez thanked Hu for his support to Uruguay and the Mercosur and expressed the willingness of both to further promote friendly cooperation with China.

Vazquez was thankful for the invitation from Hu and hoped to visit China at an early date.

The summit of Mercosur, being held on Friday, was attended by leaders of its members -- Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Representatives from 25 governments and international organizations, including Wang, also attended the summit.

Wang arrived here Tuesday and held talks with Uruguay's senior officials later.

Source: Xinhua