File photo shows a city view of Montevideo, capital of Uruguay. [Photo/VCG]
Uruguay's announcement to grant visa-free entry to Chinese citizens makes it the second South American country after Brazil to waive visa requirements, underscoring a growing effort by countries in the region to attract Chinese tourists and business travelers as economic ties with China deepen.
Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin announced on Thursday that Uruguay would implement a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports, with details to be released at a later date.
The announcement came less than a month after Brazil unveiled a similar policy allowing holders of ordinary Chinese passports to stay for up to 30 days visa-free.
Analysts say the back-to-back decisions suggest a growing willingness among Latin American governments to lower barriers for Chinese visitors following China's unilateral visa-free policies to the region.
