Orsi's visit reflects common commitment to China-LAC community with a shared future: China Daily editorial

In a world increasingly defined by uncertainties, the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi in Beijing on Tuesday marks a key step toward deeper cooperation between the two countries. The meeting also underscores China's engagement with Latin American and Caribbean countries and highlights the potential for the two sides to jointly promote a fairer global order.

The reaffirmation of China-Uruguay ties in the meeting sends a clear message that the two countries are willing to further boost the vitality of their comprehensive strategic partnership. In the process, they should also collaborate in promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization.

As analysts have noted, Orsi's visit reinforces China's role as a vital partner of LAC countries — a role that resonates in today's polarized landscape, since China is becoming increasingly crucial as regional countries seek to diversify their international relationship.

Leading a delegation of around 150 individuals, including prominent business figures, Orsi aims to elevate Uruguay's global standing and explore new avenues for investment, trade and development. His seven-day itinerary reflects a pragmatic approach to fostering sustainable growth and enhancing Uruguay's international influence.

The signing of a joint declaration and multiple cooperation agreements between the two countries on Tuesday injects fresh impetus to bilateral relations. These pacts, covering areas such as science and technology, environmental protection and agricultural trade, indicate the two sides' commitment to elevating cooperation in new frontiers to high levels. The focus on diversifying their goods trade and expanding collaboration in services and investment is particularly promising given that similar priorities have been outlined for China's new five-year plan period starting this year.

With Uruguay enjoying a trade surplus with China and exporting key agricultural products such as beef, soybeans and wood pulp, the potential for growth in sectors such as dairy and services remains untapped in the superlarge Chinese market.

By strengthening their economic ties and strategic coordination, the two countries are showing how partners can work together to navigate the complexities of the current world situation through cooperation and mutual respect. Such partnership is essential for fostering stability and certainty on the world stage.

Both countries are committed to strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership, honoring their traditional friendship and orienting it to the future. Their engagement is conducive to safeguarding the interests of Global South countries as a whole, particularly LAC countries. Notably, Uruguay assumed the rotating presidency of the Group of 77 and China last month, a strong pillar of multilateralism, as the UN chief called it.

China has always valued its relations with LAC countries. It supports LAC countries in upholding their sovereignty, security and development interests, and supports Uruguay in assuming the rotating presidencies of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Southern Common Market. The country also stands ready to work with Uruguay and other regional countries to further contribute to the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future through concrete actions and results.

The strong desire of LAC countries to achieve autonomous development and their ability to act on this desire stem precisely from the fact that their hegemonic northern neighbor has consistently attempted to include them within its "sphere of influence", insisting on "mowing the grass" in its "backyard" itself, unable to tolerate their independent stance on the world stage.

As shown by Sino-Uruguayan relations, the cooperation between China and LAC countries respects the will of LAC countries, meets the needs of their people, and provides enormous opportunities for their development. No external force is in the position to point a finger of blame at it.