Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday that the feasibility studies into a China-Uruguay free trade agreement, announced on Tuesday, would help take cooperation between China and Latin America to a new level.

The premier made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez, who is on a state visit to China from October 12 until Thursday.

China has been Uruguay's top trading partner in recent years as its largest buyer of beef, soybeans and wool.

Amid the sluggish world economy and rising trade protectionism, the feasibility studies are beneficial in sending a positive signal to the international community to safeguard trade liberalization and economic globalization, as well as China's cooperation with countries in Latin America, Li said.

Premier Li pledged to further cooperate with Uruguay. He said China was willing to cooperate with the South American country in areas such as trade and investment, infrastructure, agriculture and clean energy.

President Vazquez said Uruguay was willing to sign the free trade agreement with China as soon as possible and welcomed Chinese companies to invest in the distant country across the Pacific Ocean. He also said both countries could deepen cooperation in finance, technologies and people-to-people exchanges.