Wang Gang confirmed that the negotiations are advancing “slowly but surely” and that the technical teams of both countries are in “permanent contact.”
The Chinese ambassador in Montevideo, wang gangmet this afternoon with the speaker of the House of Representatives, Sebastian Andujarand at the exit, he referred to the FTA between Uruguay and China and maintained that the reticent position of Argentina and Brazil in the mercosur “does not harm or influence“in the progress of FTA between both countries.
The diplomat from the Asian giant had met with Andújar to discuss “multilateral parliamentary cooperation” between the two nations, but his statements upon leaving the meeting drew all the attention.
When asked at a press conference about the positions of the two neighbors and partners in the regional bloc, of greater rejection of the “modernization” and “flexibility” proposed by the president Luis Lacalle Pou, Gang replied, “We have good relationship with all countries, too. we are great commercial partners of Brazil and Argentina. And we want to get along with everyone. That does not harm or influence.”
The Chinese ambassador, meanwhile, assured that the FTA “keep advancing without haste but without pause“. “We are pushing, we continue to promote this relationship. We will do our best and row together so that everything can come to fruition,” she promised.
What the Chinese ambassador said about Lula’s latest statements and how the negotiations are progressing
As soon as he assumed Lula Da Silva as president of Brazil on January 1, the assessments made regarding his position on this issue indicated that the new president would share the reluctant position of the Argentine Alberto Fernandez in terms of making the block more flexible. However, after the bilateral meeting with Lacalle Pou at the end of January in Montevideo, the Brazilian gave a press conference and surprised with his position.
“We are going to intensify the talks and we are going to sign that agreement, so that we can immediately discuss an agreement between China and Mercosur, and I believe it is possible. We want to talk with Mercosur and talk with our Chinese friends and negotiate a Mercosur China agreement“Lula said at the time.
When asked about these statements, Gang replied: “We have taken note of President Lula’s latest statements when he was here in Uruguay.” In that tone, he continued: “China has always looked very favorably on both Mercosur as a bloc and with each of its members, because we are supporters of free trade and multilateralism“.
Gang recalled that the feasibility study in the negotiations between Uruguay and China ended a few months ago, and assured that the technical teams “have always been in permanent contact“. Thus, he concluded: “In these cases you have to be patient.”
Source: Ambito
