China and Uruguay celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in Beijing on Friday.

At a reception hosted by the Chinese People's Association For Friendship With Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Vice President Li Jianping said that over the past 20 years, the two countries have kept frequent exchanges at all levels, and conducted fruitful cooperation in agriculture, technology, education and other areas.

Bilateral people-to-people exchanges have seen rapid increase, he said, adding that CPAFFC is to work closely with the Uruguayan embassy to contribute to the friendly exchanges between the two peoples and governments.

Uruguayan ambassador to China Luis Leonardo Almagro Lemes said China is Uruguay's most important trading partner in Asia, and that his country would unswervingly stick to the one-China policy.

Senior Chinese legislator and Chairman of China-Latin America Friendship Association Cheng Siwei attended the occasion.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2008)