Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Tuesday in Montevideo that the Chinese government attaches importance to its relations with Uruguay and the enhancement of bilateral ties is in keeping with the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

This is also conducive to the augmentation of the overall strength of the developing countries, Jiang said when holding talks with President Jorge Batlle of Uruguay Tuesday afternoon.

On trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, Jiang said bilateral trade has registered rapid growth in recent years, rising from 40 million US dollars in 1988, when the two countries established diplomatic ties, to 344 million US dollars last year.

He said China has become one of Uruguay's major trading partners and its biggest buyer of wool.

The Chinese president said the economies of the two countries are complimentary and have great potential for cooperation. The two nations should increase mutual investments so as to lift the level of economic cooperation, he said.

He said there are more areas for the two countries to cooperate, agriculture in particular. China has the expertise and skilled agricultural workers, who can come to Uruguay to conduct joint development, Jiang said, adding that this will bring benefits to the economic development of both countries.

Jiang also thanked Uruguay for backing China's bid to join the World Trade Organization.

Expressing his warm welcome to Jiang, Batlle said that his country, though a small one, is willing to develop sound relations with all countries in the world.

Batlle said Uruguay has attached importance to the development of its relations with China, especially the bilateral economic and trade cooperation, as well as its exports to China.

He said Uruguay is working for the realization of peaceful coexistence with all the nations.

Jiang arrived earlier in the day for a state visit to Uruguay, the third-leg of his six-nation Latin American tour.

(People's Daily 04/11/2001)