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Chinese president pledges further support for Ecuador's post-quake rebuilding

Xinhua, November 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday promised further support in disaster relief and reconstruction for the earthquake-hit Ecuador.

"China will take an active part in Ecuador's post-quake rebuilding, and continue to provide support in housing, medical treatment, human resources and disaster prevention and reduction," Xi said.

The Chinese president made the remarks during a visit, accompanied by his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa, to Ecuador's national emergency response system ECU-911 headquarters.

Ecuador was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in April this year. Close to 700 people were killed in the earthquake, which also injured nearly 5,000 more and displaced 80,000.

As one of the first countries to supply humanitarian aid after the quake, China provided cash support of 2 million U.S. dollars and humanitarian aid worth 9.2 million dollars to Ecuador.

"(China) believes that the Ecuadorian people will overcome the disaster and rebuild your homes," the Chinese president said, noting that post-quake reconstruction is a top priority for the Latin American country.

Xi and Correa also inaugurated a joint laboratory at ECU-911 and the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant in northeast Ecuador. They also watched via live broadcast the foundation stone laying ceremony of a new hospital built with Chinese assistance in the earthquake-stricken Ecuadorian city of Chone.

Xi arrived in the Latin American nation on Thursday for a state visit, the first trip to the country by a Chinese head of state in 36 years, and the first leg of his three-nation tour to the continent.

The week-long trip will also take the Chinese president to Peru and Chile. In Peru, Xi will attend the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from Nov. 19 to 20 in the capital city of Lima. Endi