Uruguayan Vice Foreign Minister Belela Herrera and China's ambassador Friday gave an upbeat assessment of the development of the economic ties between the two countries in Montevideo.

During their meeting, Herrera and ambassador Wang Yongzhan reviewed the results of a mixed commission meeting held recently in China.

Herrera himself and a delegation of businessmen were in Beijing, China during the mixed commission meeting. And Uruguay participated in the Trade and Investments Fair in the southern Chinese city of Xiamen on Sept. 9-12.

Herrera said a working group will be formed in October to promote investment and trade between the two countries.

The group aims to improve access to the Chinese market for Uruguayan products and will also make efforts to encourage Chinese firms to invest in Uruguay.

The president of the Uruguay-China Trade Chamber, Pedro Otegui, said the mixed commission marks the beginning of a new stage in bilateral relations.

Last year, bilateral trade amounted to US$300 million.

In addition to closer bilateral trade links, the friendship between the peoples of the two countries will also be further promoted, ambassador Wang said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2005)