Bilateral Meeting with H.E. Mario Lubetkin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay

Montevideo – During his official visit to Uruguay, FAO Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu, met with His Excellency Mario Lubetkin, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Minister welcomed the Director-General, noting that his visit to the country coincided with the first anniversary of President Yamandú Orsi’s term in office. The Minister thanked the Director-General for the long-standing cooperation with Uruguay and said that it remained instrumental in helping the country to consolidate itself as a leader in food security in Latin America and the Caribbean and beyond.

The Minister went on to refer to international for a where Uruguay was set to play an increasingly impactful role, from the Brasilia Consensus to the G77, CELAC and MERCOSUR. Furthermore, he emphasized Uruguay's growing commitment to strengthening economic ties with countries worldwide. The Minister also explained that Uruguay has adopted a forward-looking approach by setting medium- and long-term goals to promote the country's development. He listed some core elements of this approach such as productivity, sustainability, alternative and renewable energy, peace and stability, multilateralism, market integration, and human rights.

The Director-General thanked the Minister, expressing that he was very pleased to be in Montevideo. He reminisced about Minister Lubetkin’s impactful career within the Organization, during which he held many senior positions. The Director-General congratulated Uruguay on its commitment to strengthening its role in the international arena, and stated that FAO would always be ready to support the country's development.

In particular, the Director-General emphasized the need for a multilateral approach to combatting transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and described the Organization’s major initiatives in this area. He also thanked the Minister for his country’s support during FAO’s 80th anniversary celebrations and its role as co-chair of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026.

Both parties committed to deepening their cooperation in transforming agrifood systems, in line with FAO's mandate and the country's priorities, with a strong emphasis on modernization and competitiveness.