BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) — China supports Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries in upholding their sovereignty, security and development interests, said Chinese President Xi Jinping in his talks with President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Yamandu Orsi in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xi said that China has always valued its relations with LAC countries.

China also supports Uruguay in assuming the rotating presidencies of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), and stands ready to work with Uruguay and other regional countries to further promote the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future, Xi said.