Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived in Montevideo Wednesday morning for an official visit to Uruguay.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro in Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, June 8, 2011. [Xinhua]

Xi is visiting the South American country at the invitation of his Uruguayan counterpart Danilo Astori.

In a written statement delivered at the airport upon his arrival, Xi said he came to Uruguay with friendly feelings of the Chinese people toward the Uruguayan people.

He said that during the past 23 years after China and Uruguay established diplomatic ties, the two countries have kept frequent high-level exchanges, deepened political mutual trust, and expanded cooperation in the economic field and people-to-people exchanges.

"Facts have proven that the long-term and steady growth of Sino-Uruguayan relations complies with the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples," he said.

"I believe the visit can realize the mission of expanding consensus, increasing friendship and deepening cooperation for common development," he added.

During his visit, Xi will meet with Uruguayan President Jose Mujica.

Uruguay is the third leg of Xi's ongoing four-nation tour, which has already taken him to Italy and Cuba. He will also visit Chile.