China's President Xi calls for 'equal, multipolar world'
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for closer cooperation with Uruguay to promote what he described as an “equal and orderly multipolar world,” as he met Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi during a state visit to Beijing.
Xi said China and Uruguay should jointly advance inclusive and universally beneficial economic globalisation and work toward building a community with a shared future for humanity, remarks that come against a backdrop of rising geopolitical competition globally.
Orsi’s visit — the first by a South American head of state to Beijing this year — highlights China’s expanding diplomatic engagement beyond traditional partners. The two leaders signed a declaration to strengthen their strategic partnership, along with 12 cooperation agreements covering areas such as science and technology, environmental protection, agricultural trade, intellectual property and other sectors.
Orsi, who arrived in Beijing with a delegation of about 150 officials and business figures, said the visit aims to “empower Uruguay in the world and generate opportunities, investment and development,” underscoring Montevideo’s interest in boosting economic ties with Beijing. His itinerary also includes meetings in Shanghai, where further business-to-business engagement is expected.
Trade ties already form a strong foundation for the relationship. In 2025, China was Uruguay’s largest export market, absorbing key agricultural products such as wood pulp, soybeans and beef, helping the South American nation record a trade surplus with China in the first half of the year.
Analysts say the visit is strategically important for China as it seeks to reinforce links with Latin America at a time when global geopolitical tensions remain elevated, and countries in the region aim to balance ties with major powers. Ursi’s delegation reflects Uruguay’s broader push to expand economic cooperation while maintaining sovereignty in a shifting global order.
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