February 21, 2005

Uruguay signs cattle exporting accord with China

Uruguay has signed a package deal with China to meet quarantine and other sanitary requirements for exporting live cattle and cattle embryos and semen to the country.

The agreement was signed last Friday evening by Uruguayan Agriculture and Fishing Minister Martin Aguirrezabala and Chinese ambassador to Uruguay Wang Yongzhan at the presidential office of the Libertad Building.

Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle, who attended the event, said this agreement "opens important perspectives" for trade with China, and that Uruguay can be "optimistic" in reaching good trade relations with the country in the near future.

Uruguay has 12 million cattle, and beef export has become one of the most important sources for the country to earn foreign exchange income. Thousands of tons of beef and beef products are exported to countries in America, Europe and Asia every year.