（February 26, 2021, at the Presidential Palace of Uruguay）
Your Excellency Secretary General Delgado of the Uruguay Presidential Palace,
Dear friends from the press,
Good morning!
Today marks an extraordinary day in the history of China-Uruguay relations. Since September last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Uruguay President Lacalle reached important consensus on vaccine cooperation in their telephone conversations and through messages to each other. At the juncture when the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Ox has just begun and the one year anniversary of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Uruguay approaches, the first batch of Chinese vaccines arrived safely in Uruguay early this morning, which marks an important event in bilateral relations, fully demonstrates the fruitful outcomes of head-of-state diplomacy and the high standard of our strategic partnership, and speaks volumes about the spirit of a community of a shared future for mankind where countries help and watch out for each other.
The devil is in the details. At this era of globalization, amid the pandemic in particular, head-of-state diplomacy is crucial, indispensable, and irreplaceable. I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to extend heart-felt congratulations to President Lacalle, whose vision and perseverance have been keys to attaining the vaccines that are still hard to come by.
On May 18, 2020, President Xi Jinping declared at the virtual event of the 73rd Session of the World Health Organization that once the R&D of Chinese vaccines is completed and they are put into use, they will be made global public good, to make China’s contribution to the affordability and accessibility of vaccines for developing countries.
Recently, at the request of the WHO, China decided to provide vaccines for COVAX to meet the urgent needs of developing countries. This was yet another important measure that China has taken to promote fair global distribution of vaccines, facilitate international pandemic response, and practice the idea of a community of a shared future for mankind. Virus respects on national borders or races. The world is in it together. Mankind is living in a community of a shared future. Solidarity and cooperation are the most potent weapons to overcome the pandemic. A friend in need is a friend indeed. It has proven once again that “people in the East”, like “people on the East Bank”, set great store by and honor their pledges.
Brothers are bound by unison and solidarity. Looking ahead, we believe that under the strong leadership of President Lacalle, the people of Uruguay will surely win the final victory against the virus at an early date. With the personal care and strategic guidance of leaders of our two countries, the strategic partnership between China and Uruguay will surely yield more fruitful results within the BRI framework.
I affirm my gratitude to President Lacalle for receiving me despite his busy schedule. I solute him for his effective leadership in combating the pandemic and pay tribute to members of the advisory committee, the medical staff, teachers, the military, the police and the entire people of the East Bank for your courage and bravery in facing up to the once-in-a-century pandemic.
This year is the Chinese lunar year of the Ox. H.E. President Lacalle was also born in the year of the Ox. Ox represents diligence and abundance in the Chinese culture. I would like to take this opportunity to wish President Lacalle, the people of Uruguay, and the Chinese diaspora in Uruguay good health, happiness, prosperity and success!
Long live the friendship between China and Uruguay!
Thank you!
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