QUITO, Nov. 18 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Friday that China and Ecuador need to keep stepping up dialogues and exchanges between their legislative bodies to promote a steady development of the two nations' comprehensive strategic partnership.
The top Chinese leader made the remarks while meeting with Ecuadorian President of the National Assembly Gabriela Rivadeneira.
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.
In a joint statement issued after the talks between Xi and his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa on Thursday, Beijing and Quito agreed to lift their relationship to the comprehensive strategic partnership.
While meeting with Rivadeneira, Xi said friendly cooperation between the Chinese and Ecuadorian legislatures is an important part of the two nations' comprehensive strategic partnership.
In recent years, the National People's Congress (NPC) of China and Ecuador' s National Assembly have maintained close exchanges and cooperation, which has played an important role in promoting mutual understanding and friendly ties between the two countries, Xi said.
He also urged the two countries to enhance their exchanges in the experiences of legislative oversight and state-governing.
China, as always, sees its ties with Ecuador from a strategic and long-term perspective, and is ready to further deepen pragmatic cooperation with Ecuador in all areas so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples, Xi said.
For his part, Rivadeneira appreciated China's assistance in the wake of April's major earthquake, saying Xi's visit to the country will surely boost the two nations' cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
He also said Ecuador's National Assembly would like to strengthen its cooperation and exchanges with China's NPC in a bid to push forward the relationship of Ecuador and the wider Latin America with China.
Besides Ecuador, the week-long tour 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.