Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa witness the signing of document on bilateral cooperation after their talks in Quito, Ecuador, Nov. 17, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
QUITO, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- China and Ecuador agreed here Thursday to boost their cooperation in production capacity, as well as economic and trade areas, according to a joint statement issued during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Latin American nation.
During the talks between President Xi and his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa, the two heads of state exchanged views on China-Ecuador ties, China's relations with Latin America, and international and regional issues of common concern, said the statement.
Seeking to boost production capacity and investment cooperation, the two countries pledged to implement major projects in oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, water conservancy, communication and finance, and explore cooperation in agriculture, petrochemical industry, ship building, metallurgy and paper making industries.
China is willing to work with Ecuador in technology transfer so as to boost the country's industrialization and strengthen its capacity in independent development.
The two sides also pledged to encourage their companies and financial institutions to discuss possible cooperation on the Pacific Refinery, a large petrochemical complex in Ecuador's northern province of Manabi, which is going to be a pillar of petrochemical industry in Ecuador and the whole region as well.
On trade, Beijing and Quito seek a steady, sustainable and balanced trade growth, and vow to make it more convenient for their respective products to get access to the other's markets.
The two sides also want to enhance their exchanges in science and technology, according to the statement.
China is willing to play an active role in the Yachay City of Knowledge and Prometheus program, and facilitate the cooperation between scientific research academies, higher learning institutions and enterprises in joint research and development, innovation, as well as the commercialization and industrialization of scientific research achievements.
China and Ecuador also agreed to enhance their cooperation in education, culture, health, sports, tourism and judicial areas, bolster exchanges between media, artists and students of the two countries, increase the number of student exchanges, so as to boost understanding and friendship of the two peoples.
The two sides reaffirmed that they will continue to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and support their respective core interests and major concerns, said the document.
Ecuador reiterated its firm adherence to the one China policy and support to Beijing's efforts to achieve national unification, while the Chinese side backs Ecuador's efforts to seek a development path that fits its national conditions, and to maintain independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.
The two sides also agreed to maintain close high-level exchanges, and promote communications between their legislative bodies, political parties, and at local level as well as cooperation between their foreign ministries so as to find more common ground and enhance political mutual trust.
Also in the statement, China and Ecuador believe that practical cooperation is an important part of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Seeking to improve their all-round cooperation, the two sides are willing to further integrate their development strategies, and give full play to a series of cooperation mechanisms in such areas as production capacity, investment, trade, agriculture and technology.
Also according to the joint statement, the two countries agree that they share broad common interests in many of the key international and regional issues.
Both countries will, within the UN and the Group of 77 (G77) as well as many other multilateral cooperation frameworks, maintain close communications and cooperation on UN reform, global economic governance, climate change, and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, so as to promote South-South cooperation and preserve the interests of the developing world.
China supports Ecuador's G77 presidency in 2017, and would like to work with the country to increase the influence and the voice of the developing countries in global affairs.
President Xi arrived in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito Thursday afternoon, kicking off a state visit to the country and his third visit to Latin America since he took office in 2013.
Besides Ecuador, the week-long tour will also take him 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.
Related:
Backgrounder: Key facts about China-Ecuador ties
Full text of Chinese president's signed article in Ecuadorian newspaper
