Uruguay keen on free-trade deal with China: FM

Uruguayan Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa confirmed Tuesday his country's interest in sealing a free-trade agreement (FTA) with China, either bilaterally or as part of the Mercosur bloc.

"We would be going in all together as Mercosur (Common Market of the South)," said Nin Novoa at a press conference after returning from an official visit to China.

Nin Novoa also mentioned the meeting of the Uruguay-China Joint Commission and exchanges between foreign affairs and agriculture officials to work on joint sanitary protocols, as well as the upcoming visit to China by President Tabare Vazquez in October.

These elements "speak of the real interest in improving bilateral relations. An FTA would thus benefit both parties," he noted.

"Chinese authorities have been very satisfied with the quality of Uruguayan goods and our soil management technique, while being particularly impressed with our livestock traceability system," he said of the highlights of his trip.

"China is Uruguay's main trading partner and we are keen to overcome any difficulties that may present themselves in the field of bilateral trade," he said. Enditem