China-Ecuador on path to brotherhood ties, says Xi in Quito

President Xi Jinping meets with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa in Quito, Ecuador on November 18, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's help to Ecuador will have no additional conditions as the two countries are making joint efforts to establish brotherhood ties, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa in Quito during his historic state visit to the South American country. He is the first Chinese president to visit Ecuador since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1980.

"I saw that the (Ecuadorian) people were quite friendly along the street," Xi said, adding that China aims to provide practical help for Ecuadorian people.

"I came here with the deep friendship of Chinese people and the good wishes of developing bilateral ties," Xi said in a speech delivered at the Quito airport, where President Correa hosted a grand welcome ceremony for the Chinese delegation.

During the meeting, the two countries signed a number of cooperative documents covering areas including infrastructure, finance and investment.

Correa expressed gratitude for China's financial support in the country's infrastructure, saying that China has financed Ecuador's seven hydropower plants.

"With the hydropower plants, Ecuador has become one of the world's most efficient country in the use of clean energy," he said, adding that as many as 90 percent of the country's power is from renewable energy including hydropower.

Contact the writer at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn