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Forestry Technical Exchange Visit Strengthens Bond Between Uruguay and China
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As part of strengthening bilateral relations in forestry, the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (MGAP) received Ph.D. Chen Yong on June 9. He is a professor at the Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information (RIFPI) of the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), Deputy Director of the International Forest Products Trade Center (CINFT), and Deputy Secretary-General of the China National Forest Products Industry Association (CNFPIA).
During the meeting, mutual interest in deepening scientific and technological cooperation in the timber sector was reaffirmed, based on the Memorandum of Understanding on Forestry Cooperation signed between both countries on October 18, 2016.
The importance of the forestry sector in bilateral trade was highlighted, emphasizing the quality of Uruguayan products and their sustainable, deforestation-free origin, as well as the stable legal guarantees and preferential policies for investment in the country. In 2024, trade between China and Uruguay reached $900 million, of which $50 million corresponded to Chinese exports of forestry products to Uruguay.
Priority areas of cooperation included forest health, adding value to timber products, and the development and industrialization of bamboo, leveraging China's expertise in this field. Additionally, the need to strengthen technical exchange mechanisms through reciprocal technical visits and virtual meetings was established.
Potential strategic lines of economic and trade cooperation were also discussed, such as strengthening government ties and promoting initiatives to encourage Chinese companies to establish operations in Uruguay, aiming to explore trade and investment opportunities in the national forestry industry.
The meeting took place at the headquarters of the General Forestry Directorate of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries and was attended by the General Forestry Director, Agricultural Engineer Gastón Martínez; the Directorate’s advisor, Agricultural Engineer Leonardo Boragno; and Dr. Oriana Piperno, in charge of International Cooperation at the MGAP’s International Affairs Unit. Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Directorate of Industries of the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining were also present.
