Facundo Simón Fernández Guerra, Consul General of Uruguay in Guangzhou, will conclude his tenure in the city in October 2025. In an exclusive interview with South, he reflected on Uruguay's deepening ties with China and Guangdong's pivotal role in bilateral cooperation.

"We have a very solid relationship with China. Our only image of China is cooperation, cooperation, and more cooperation," Simón said, highlighting Guangdong as "an engine of those bilateral relations."

Since arriving in Guangzhou in late 2022, the consul general has witnessed the province's dynamism—from its iconic architecture and cultural landmarks such as the Guangzhou Library to the rapid development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

He noted that cooperation initiatives have expanded from cultural exchanges, including library partnerships, to science and technology collaboration through the China-LAC Technology Transfer Center in Dongguan.

Trade remains a cornerstone of China-Uruguay relations. Today, 24 percent of Uruguay's global exports go to China, with beef, soy, and dairy products leading the way. "China and Uruguay are naturally complementary," he emphasized.

In 2023, the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. For Simón, this partnership extends beyond commerce to include education, institutional exchanges, and people-to-people connections. "The possibilities for cooperation are limitless," he said.

As he prepares to leave Guangzhou, the consul general left a parting message: "Visit Guangzhou—you will see incredible buildings, the Pearl River, and taste Cantonese food. But above all, keep cooperating, because with every city I visited, I feel we can do much more."

Reporter | Liu Xiaodi, Lin Ying (intern), Chen Sihan (intern)

Video Editor & Cameraman | Deng Yingheng

Video Script | Liu Xiaodi

Text | Liu Xiaodi

Cover Designer | Cai Junru

Editor | Yuan Zixiang, James Campion, Shen He