BRI a catalyst for Uruguay's infrastructure development

The Belt and Road Initiative has further enriched the partnership between Uruguay and China, acting as a catalyst for infrastructure development and people-to-people exchanges, a seasoned Uruguayan diplomat has said.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Fernando Lugris, Uruguay's ambassador to China, said a number of significant infrastructure projects are being carried out in Uruguay.

"The most important one ongoing is related to energy in order to boost the new big investments that we are receiving in the country. And this is being done by a Chinese company," he said.

In addition to large-scale projects, he underlined the significance of smaller endeavors, such as collaborations between museums and libraries and increased student exchanges at the people-to-people level.

"Uruguay's national library has become a member of an alliance of BRI national libraries, and they are exchanging ideas and experiences. Some of our key museums are part of the BRI alliance of museums," he said.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed initiative. It aims to shore up interconnectivity and build trade and infrastructure networks on and beyond ancient Silk Road routes. It also aims to enhance people-to-people exchanges.

In a quick review of his nation's partnership with China on advancing the landmark vision, Lugris said his country is an active participant in the BRI.

"Uruguay was the first country to state clearly, at the level of head of state, our willingness to become part of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2016. And then we were among the first countries to sign the (memorandum of understanding) with China," he said.

Uruguay and China "share a lot of principles and ideas like the commitment to free trade and also the strong commitment to sustainable development", he noted.

"We are trying to extend and to establish more bridges. There is not only trade and political trust but also a lot of cooperation in science and technology among academies and universities," he said.

Lugris noted that the bilateral trading model has been effective and successful.

Receptive market

He said China's technological products have found a receptive market in Uruguay, while Uruguay's agricultural products are very welcomed in China.

This mutually beneficial trade dynamics has solidified China's position as Uruguay's main trading partner for the past 11 years.

The annual bilateral trade has achieved an exponential growth in recent years, reaching $7.44 billion last year, China's Foreign Ministry said.

China-Uruguay relations have entered a stage of mature and stable development, setting a good example of win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes and national conditions, observers have noted.

Looking ahead, Lugris expressed optimism about the future of China-Uruguay relations, saying "we are happy that China continues to lead and promote more spaces for cooperation".