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Uruguay and China have announced plans to strengthen their relations after signing a wide range of cooperation agreements that will deepen China’s foothold in South America.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: In the last few weeks, China has been making notable efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with Western nations, hosting high-level meetings with the leaders of Finland, the United Kingdom, and Canada in a bid to counter growing US influence and present itself as an alternative “reliable” partner. These meetings come amid a backdrop of waning Chinese influence in South and Central America, where China has taken some notable L’s (including the loss of key infrastructure control in the Panama Canal and reduced sway in Venezuela following US intervention to capture Maduro).

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi held a high-level meeting in China, where the two leaders formalized a renewed strategic partnership aimed at deepening bilateral ties across multiple sectors. The meeting resulted in the signing of 12 cooperation agreements, covering areas such as science and technology, environmental initiatives, intellectual property, and trade (particularly in meat and agricultural products).

During the talks, President Xi emphasized the importance of building an “equal and orderly multipolar world.” He framed the partnership between the two countries as part of China’s vision for global cooperation rooted in “mutual respect, sovereignty, and non-interference.”

President Orsi, in turn, described the current state of Uruguay–China relations as the “best moment” in their history and pledged to “raise it to a new level.” He highlighted Uruguay’s intent to not only expand trade in goods like beef, soybeans, and dairy, but also to increase cooperation in services, infrastructure, and sustainable development, areas where Uruguay has significant untapped potential. Orsi also reaffirmed Uruguay’s commitment to maintaining long-term ties with China.

There’s been no comment from the US.