As developing countries, China and Uruguay are committed to promoting world peace and development, said Julio Cesar Cardozo, president of the Uruguayan Chamber of Deputies, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Thursday.

Cardozo, who has just returned from an official goodwill visit to China, said that he has seen with his own eyes what China has achieved in economic and social areas.

Concerning China's rapid economic development, he said that China is a major force in promoting world peace, as its development is aimed at improving the Chinese people's living standards and will not threaten the security of any other countries.

Cardozo also hailed China's efforts to encourage regions, whichhave achieved economic advancement first, to help backward regions develop their economies.

He said that economic disparities among regions are a challenge every country faces, and Uruguay is striving to patch up the development gap between urban and rural areas.

The Uruguayan parliament leader said that China-Uruguay relations have been built on a solid political foundation since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 19 years ago.

Uruguay will continue to promote cooperation with China in suchfields as trade and economy, said Cardozo, adding that the two countries also enjoy broad prospects for cooperation in areas of science, technology, energy and tourism.

China and Uruguay have plans to set up a Confucius Institute to promote the learning of the Chinese language and culture, he said.

Cardozo hoped that more Uruguayan young people could learn the Chinese language at the institute to contribute to the two nations' exchanges in trade, economy and culture.

The contact between the legislatures of China and Uruguay has played an important role in boosting exchanges and cooperation between the two nations' parties, enterprises and regions, Cardozo said.

He said the Uruguayan National Congress will strengthen friendly exchanges with the National People's Congress (NPC) of China to further boost the development of bilateral relations.

Cardozo was on an official goodwill visit from Jan. 7-15 at theinvitation of Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

Source: Xinhua