China open to "cooperation" with Mercosur as a whole while advancing in FTA with Uruguay
The general director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Cai Wei, affirmed in Montevideo that Beijing, which has begun negotiations for an FTA with Uruguay, is open to "cooperation" with "Mercosur as a whole."
"The Chinese side is open to cooperation both with Mercosur as a whole and with the particular member country (for Uruguay)," said the head of an official Chinese delegation that met with members of the Uruguayan president's cabinet, Luis Lacalle. Pou, including the Foreign Minister, Francisco Bustillo, and the Minister of Economy, Azucena Arbeleche
"China is a firm supporter of free trade" and is "willing to negotiate and sign FTAs with all interested countries," added the Chinese leader.
Uruguay began negotiations for an FTA with China after both countries carried out a feasibility study for such an agreement, which generated controversy in Mercosur, a bloc that the southern country has been part of since 1991 with Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
The bloc does not allow its partners to negotiate trade agreements without the consent of the other members, but Uruguay, which for almost two decades has been asking for a relaxation of that decision adopted by the group, decided to go it alone with China.
