There is plenty of room to explore further mutually beneficial development between China and Ecuador, Jia Qinglin, China's top political adviser, said in Quito on Tuesday.
Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, met with Ecuador's President Rafael Correa and Speaker of the Ecuadorian National Congress Fernando Cordero during his visit here.
All agreed to work together to achieve better-balanced trade and broaden the fields of cooperation.
Jia, who met with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa in Quito on Tuesday, said China attached great importance to its relationship with Ecuador and was willing to make joint efforts to widen and deepen their cooperation.
He noted the China-Ecuador relationship had entered a new phase of fast development, as political trust grew, mutual benefit widened and cultural exchange increased.
China highly appreciates Ecuador's adherence to the one-China policy on issues of Taiwan and Tibet, and its support during Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Jia suggested China and Ecuador should pursue key areas of collaboration.
Also, in line with the principle of mutual benefit, the two countries should further explore the potential of cooperation by developing existing channels and creating new mechanisms to optimize trade balance, he said.
Jia called for a broader exchange in all social sectors and vowed to strengthen collaboration in culture, education, sports and tourism to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Ecuadorian peoples.
China and Ecuador will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, which Jia described as a mature bilateral relationship and a starting point of a brand new page of China-Ecuador ties.
Correa said Ecuador had made a strategic decision to enhance its relationship with China.
Ecuador appreciates China's long-standing support and is content with the progress made in important cooperative projects with China, he said.
National Assembly Speaker Cordero echoed his president's sentiments, saying China's win-win approach to cooperation and its assistance was highly valued.
He highlighted the encouraging outlook for economic-commercial cooperation between Ecuador and China and said the Ecuadorian Congress wished to intensify exchange and communication with its Chinese counterpart.
After their meeting, Jia and Correa signed a series of commercial technology cooperation agreements.
Earlier on Tuesday, Jia also attended a Chinese-Ecuadorian Entrepreneurs' Symposium on Investment Cooperation.
Lenin Moreno, Ecuador's Vice President, who attended the symposium, highly praised China's impressive achievements in all fields, taking as examples the Olympic Games and China's 60th Anniversary celebration.
Moreno expressed Ecuador's willingness to contribute to China's future development by intensifying cooperation.
Jia arrived in Quito for an official good-will visit to Ecuador on Monday and will continue his four-leg tour in Brazil. He has already visited the Philippines and Peru.
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