BEIJING - Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday met with Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez in Beijing, calling on both sides to expand trade and investment cooperation.

China views Uruguay as a good friend and partner in Latin America, he said, noting that China is willing to strengthen the alignment of the two country's development strategies.

China and Uruguay launched a study on bilateral free trade negotiation, which sends a positive signal regarding trade liberalization and economic globalization to the world, said Li.

This will also help advance China's economic and trade cooperation with Latin American countries and countries of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), to achieve multi-win outcomes, said Li.

Mercosur, which was founded in 1991, includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

In addition, the premier proposed that cooperation with Uruguay in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture and animal husbandry, and clean energy be enhanced.

China is willing to work with Uruguay to enhance high-level contact as well as mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's core interests, said Li.

He also suggested the two sides maintain communication and coordination on international affairs and increase people-to-people exchanges, to improve ties.

Vazquez agreed with Li that further deepening cooperation in economic and trade, investment, finance, science and technology and culture would be advantageous to both sides.

Uruguay supports free trade and the integration of regional cooperation,he said, adding that Uruguay is ready to push forward the negotiation and signing of a free trade agreement with China.

He welcomed Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Uruguay.

He said Uruguay is willing to promote the development of relations between Mercosur countries and China.

Earlier Wednesday, top legislator Zhang Dejiang met with Vazquez, pledging to further strengthen cooperation between China's National People's Congress and National Congress of Uruguay.

Vazquez said Uruguay is ready to enhance parliamentary links with China.