Ecuadorian president meets Chinese FM

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on Monday thanked China for its support and assistance to Ecuador's development and hopes for closer cooperation during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Carondelet Palace in Quito.

China is a true friend of Ecuador and the strategic partnership between the two countries has shown a good example for other Latin American countries, Correa said, adding that the bilateral pragmatic cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Correa appreciated China's great support and help to Ecuador's development, especially the timely assistance provided by China to Ecuador after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country on April 16.

Correa urged the two countries to enhance high-level exchanges, improve political mutual trust, and strengthen coordination in international affairs.

The president said Ecuador hopes to expand pragmatic cooperation with China so as to improve the level of economic development and accelerate industrialization.

For his part, Wang said the Chinese government and people have sympathy for the victims and losses from the destructive earthquake. China will continue to provide support and help in Ecuador's post-disaster reconstruction.

He hailed the China-Ecuador relationship as being at its best level, and said that China and Ecuador, with mutual trust and support, have achieved fruitful results in bilateral and international affairs.

China would strengthen its cooperation with Ecuador to actively implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen bilateral strategic partnership, and develop the bilateral relations to higher levels, he added. Endi