Uruguayan president lauds ties with China

Uruguayan President Jose Mujica said Thursday that Uruguay-China ties, particularly those in trade, will further expand in the future.

"Everybody knows the importance of China in today's world, and the attraction it has for our country's foreign trade," said Mujica during a a visit to the Chinese embassy for a farewell reception for outgoing Chinese Ambassador Qu Shengwu.

In 2012, China became Uruguay's largest trade partner, the president said.

According to the Chinese embassy in Uruguay, bilateral trade grew from 2.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2010 to 4.3 billion dollars in 2012.

China and Uruguay have maintained high-level contact and their economic and trade cooperation has grown steadily since they established diplomatic ties in 1988.