China to strengthen ties with Ecuador

Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji met separately with visiting Ecuadorian President Daniel Roy-Gilchrist Noboa Azin in Beijing on Wednesday.

During their meeting, Li called on the two sides to promote high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, continue to implement the China-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement, expand the scale of bilateral trade, consolidate and expand cooperation in traditional fields such as energy, mining and infrastructure construction, and deepen cooperation in emerging fields including 5G and artificial intelligence.

China is ready to import more high-quality agricultural and food products from Ecuador and encourages capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Ecuador, Li said.

Noboa, who is on a state visit to China, said that Ecuador is ready to work with China to further unlock the dividends of the bilateral free trade agreement, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in fields such as the economy and trade, finance, mining, renewable energy, infrastructure construction, agriculture and fisheries, and promote the continuous development of the China-Ecuador comprehensive strategic partnership.

When meeting with Noboa, Zhao, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said that the top legislature is ready to boost multi-level and multi-field friendly exchanges with Ecuador's National Assembly, deepen experience sharing on legislation, oversight and governance, and provide legal safeguards for practical cooperation between the two countries.

Noboa said Ecuador views China as a good friend and good partner and supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

XINHUA