China and Ecuador agree to raise bilateral ties to level of comprehensive strategic partnership

President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, are welcomed by Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa and his wife, Anne Malherbe Gosselin, after arriving at the Quito airport to start a state visit to Ecuador. JU PENG / XINHUA

Xi met with Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa in Quito during his state visit to the South American country. Xi is the first Chinese president to visit Ecuador since diplomatic relations were established in 1980.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a number of cooperative documents covering areas such as infrastructure, finance and investment.

Xi said China-Ecuador relations have entered a key phase. China will continue to support Ecuador in exploring a development path that suits its own conditions, and will take part in Ecuador's post-earthquake reconstruction work, he said.

He said China aims to provide practical help for Ecuadorians.

"I come here with the deep friendship of the Chinese people and best wishes for developing bilateral ties," Xi said in a speech at the Quito airport, where his host held a grand welcoming ceremony.

Correa expressed gratitude for China's financial support in the country's infrastructure, saying that China has financed seven of Ecuador's hydropower plants.

"With the hydropower plants, Ecuador has become one of the world's most efficient countries in the use of clean energy," he said, adding that 90 percent of the country's power comes from renewable energy.

China is the third-biggest trade partner of Ecuador, while Ecuador is China's major energy partner in Latin America and a major destination for Chinese investment.

Bilateral trade volume reached $4.1 billion last year. Bananas, shrimp and flowers are Ecuador's major exports to China.

More than 90 Chinese companies operate in Ecuador, and some have been involved in the country's biggest projects, such as its largest hydroelectric plant.

Wang Yulin, China's ambassador to Ecuador, said bilateral ties will get a boost from Xi's visit.

"Pragmatic economic cooperation has produced palpable benefits for people in both countries," said Wang.

"China and Ecuador are highly complementary, natural partners for cooperation in the economic field. They have enormous potential for cooperation in such areas as production capacity, investment and clean energy," said Wang.

Cesar Navas, Ecuador's minister of security and coordination, said Ecuadorians are grateful for the timely assistance China offered after the April earthquake.

"We trust Chinese quality and efficiency, which can help build a hospital that will last 100 years," he said.

Milton Reyes, a professor and researcher of Asia-Pacific affairs at the Latin American Integration Association, said China's respect for Ecuador has encouraged Correa's government "to seek to elevate bilateral ties based on the potential to expand cooperation".

Xi's visit will also take him to Chile and Peru, where he will attend the 24th APEC Leaders' Meeting in Lima over the weekend.

Xinhua contributed to this story.