Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi visited Beijing Foreign Studies University on Wednesday, where he watered a fir tree planted by his predecessor 13 years ago, a metaphor for the deepening relationship between China and Uruguay.

The tree was planted in 2013 by former Uruguayan president Jose "Pepe" Mujica during a visit to the university. Orsi, on a weeklong state visit to China, returned to tend the tree, describing the gesture as a symbol of care and continuity in bilateral ties.

"It has taken strong roots — roots that allow the tree, like our relationship, to withstand storms,"Orsi told students and faculty, referring to the current global geopolitical climate. "In such times, the strength of roots is truly tested."

Orsi said mutual understanding and trust between countries are built through sustained dialogue and academic exchange. He described China as an ancient civilization that "knows how to look far ahead" and called for expanded people-to-people and educational cooperation between Uruguay and China.

Academic exchanges between China and Uruguay, and between China and Latin America more broadly, represent one of the most profound forms of cooperation, he said.

"When students cross borders, when researchers share wisdom, when universities open their doors to foreign cultures, we are building something beyond the reach of any trade agreement: mutual trust among peoples," Orsi said.

Scientific and academic cooperation not only drives innovation but also contributes to peace, he added. Science knows no borders and can bridge divides, though it can also deepen them.

Addressing students of foreign languages, Orsi said language learning goes far beyond vocabulary and grammar. "The true essence lies in learning to see the world through the eyes of others — to understand different histories, appreciate diverse emotions and embrace the richness of human experience," he said.

The visit included a cultural performance by Li Yuelin, a senior Spanish major at BFSU, who sang Tu vestido by Uruguayan singer Ana Prada. Li said the song conveys a feminist message about clothing freedom, encouraging women to dress as they choose without being constrained by judgment.

During the performance, Li noticed Orsi recording the song and applauding. "I could feel his appreciation, which was very encouraging," she said.

After the performance, Orsi made a surprise phone call on Li's behalf to Prada, who expressed delight that her music was known and sung in China.

Li, who has studied Spanish for nearly 10 years and spent time in Argentina on a scholarship, said the experience was unforgettable. She plans to pursue further studies in Spanish literature and translation, aiming at an academic career.

BFSU, often called the "cradle of diplomats" in China, has longstanding ties with Uruguay. Its Spanish program, established in 1952, remains a key platform for cultural and academic exchanges with Latin America, according to Li Hai, the university's Communist Party of China secretary.

Li Hai said the visit coincided with the traditional Chinese solar term lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, which symbolizes renewal and hope — a fitting backdrop for reinforcing a long-standing friendship.

Huang Yazhong, China's ambassador to Uruguay, recalled Uruguay's contributions to global multilateralism and its support for China's accession to the World Trade Organization decades ago.

China has been Uruguay's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years, Huang said, calling the relationship "a model of friendly cooperation between countries with different political systems, economies and civilizations".

He urged students to serve as "living embodiments of friendship" regardless of where they go or what careers they pursue.