BEIJING — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Aug 19 met with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa.

During Nin Novoa’s stay in China, the two sides will sign cooperation documents on the Belt and Road Initiative, service trade and other fields. Wang said this demonstrates Uruguay’s strategic vision on developing ties with China.

The two sides should maintain all-around exchanges and continue to support each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, Wang said.

China hopes that Uruguay will continue to exert its positive influence and promote China’s dialogue and cooperation with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) to achieve new progress, he said.

Nin Novoa said Uruguay is the first country in the Mercosur that signed a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative with China, and Uruguay is ready to take this as an opportunity to help China and the Mercosur countries to build closer ties.