On the afternoon of November 22, 2023, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou who is paying a state visit to China. The two heads of state announced the elevation of China-Uruguay relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the year 2023 marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uruguay and the 5th anniversary of Uruguay's participation in Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past 35 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have always respected each other, treated each other as equals and engaged in win-win cooperation, and bilateral exchanges and cooperation have flourished in various fields. Particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries stood together in mutual assistance and worked jointly to fight the pandemic, raising the China-Uruguay strategic partnership to a higher level. China is ready to work with Uruguay to take the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership as a new starting point and a new guide for upgrading bilateral relations and enriching bilateral cooperation, so as to set a fine example of solidarity and cooperation between countries of different sizes, systems and cultures, and better serve the development of the two countries and improve the well-being of the two peoples.

Xi Jinping elaborated on the substance and significance of Chinese modernization, noting that China is ready to increase exchanges on national governance, enhance political mutual trust, and share development opportunities with Uruguay, to promote the modernization of the two countries and the world. Xi said that the two sides should step up friendly exchanges and cooperation between the legislatures, political parties and subnational entities, take the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan as an opportunity to enhance the synergy of development strategies, foster new drivers of cooperation in such fields as trade in services, the digital economy and clean energy, and promote China-Uruguay Belt and Road cooperation to a new stage of high-quality development. China welcomes more quality agricultural and husbandry products and highly value-added products of Uruguay into the Chinese market, encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Uruguay, and hopes that Uruguay will continue to provide Chinese enterprises with an enabling business environment. The two sides should promote cultural, sports and other people-to-people exchanges, and create more facilitating conditions for personnel exchanges between the two countries. China is ready to provide Uruguay with more scholarships.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Uruguay share similar views on many international and regional issues, and have broad common understandings and common interests. The two sides can further strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, and work together to make the world more peaceful, prosperous and just. China attaches great importance to developing relations with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, appreciates Uruguay's consistent active participation in overall China-LAC cooperation, supports the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and other regional organizations in maintaining close political dialogue and economic and trade cooperation with China, and hopes that Uruguay will continue to promote China-LAC cooperation and China-MERCOSUR cooperation.

Luis Lacalle Pou said that he is very glad to lead an important cabinet and trade delegation to visit China on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the past 35 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the development of bilateral relations has been guided by the principles of equality, mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results. The two sides have enjoyed solid political mutual trust, and deepening relations with China has become the strong consensus of all sectors and all the people of Uruguay. The Uruguayan government recognizes that there is only one China in the world, and that peaceful reunification is an internal affair of China that must be decided by the Chinese people themselves. Both Uruguay and China are firmly committed to safeguarding multilateralism and free trade, and promoting world peace and stability. Uruguay-China relations have gone beyond the scope of economy and trade, and shown sound momentum of multi-dimensional and high-level development. Uruguay supports the Belt and Road cooperation, endorses the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in such fields as economy, trade, science and technology, sports and tourism, welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Uruguay, and supports establishing more Confucius Institutes in Uruguay and promoting closer personnel exchanges and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Uruguay looks forward to working with China to accelerate the advancement of free trade cooperation, and encourages MERCOSUR to work to this end. Uruguay is ready to play a positive role in promoting the development of LAC-China relations and the building of the China-CELAC Forum.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan, and multiple bilateral cooperation documents related to such fields as trade and investment, digital economy, green development, agriculture, health, education, culture, scientific and technological innovation, and customs inspection and quarantine.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcome ceremony for Luis Lacalle Pou at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

A 21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square, and the guard of honor lined up in salutation. After the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Uruguay. Luis Lacalle Pou reviewed the guard of honor of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past in the company of Xi Jinping.

On the evening of that day, Xi Jinping held a welcome banquet for Luis Lacalle Pou at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi was present at the above events.

During Luis Lacalle Pou's visit to China, the two sides issued the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay on Establishing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.