Minister Tang Renjian met with Fernando Mattos Costa, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, in Beijing on May 25, 2023. They exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and fishery.         

Minister Tang noted that in recent years, China and Uruguay have enjoyed fruitful results in bilateral agricultural cooperation as they have continuously promoted deep and solid cooperation in agriculture. Cooperation mechanisms have been continuously refined; technology exchanges have been carried out in an orderly manner; and agriculture trade has steadily increased. The two countries have aligned positions with each other in multilateral situations.  

China appreciates the importance attached by Uruguay to the bilateral agricultural cooperation and is willing to work with Uruguay to further improve cooperation mechanisms, advance cooperation in an innovative manner between research institutes of both countries, and push for cooperation in areas such as soybeans, beef cattle, and fishery. In addition, the two countries could expand areas and enrich the content of cooperation to bring real benefits to the two peoples of both countries.  

Minister Mattos spoke highly of China-Uruguay agricultural cooperation and agreed with Minister Tang, expressing that Uruguay stands ready to enhance cooperation with China in the growth of the livestock and poultry sectors, fishery resource development and conservation, agriculture trade, and reduction in food loss and waste.  

At the end of the meeting, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on fishery and aquaculture cooperation.