China always views ties with Ecuador from a strategic and long-term perspective, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday in talks with visiting President of the Republic of Ecuador Daniel Roy-Gilchrist Noboa Azin.
At the talks held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi extended welcome to Daniel Noboa, and noted that bilateral trade between the two sides has achieved remarkable fruits so far this year.
"In the first half of this year, bilateral trade between China and Ecuador increased by 20 percent year on year, with China remaining Ecuador's largest export destination for non-oil products. The fruits mark both the benefits of the bilateral free trade agreement and the potential of China's massive market," Xi said.
"This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Ecuador. Regardless of changes in the international situation, China has always viewed its relations with Ecuador from a strategic and long-term perspective, and is willing to work with Ecuador to continuously elevate bilateral relations to new heights, so as to better benefit the people of both countries," said the Chinese president.
For his part, Noboa expressed his country's willingness to strengthen cooperation with China in the economic and cultural fields.
"First of all, I would like to thank you for your warm hospitality and thoughtful arrangements. We will learn from your great leadership with admiration. At the same time, please rest assured that you can always trust Ecuador in promoting cultural and economic cooperation. On the other side of the Pacific, you will always have a trustworthy friend," he said.
At the invitation of Xi, Noboa is on an eight-day state visit to China through Sunday. This is his first state visit to China.
China always views ties with Ecuador from strategic, long-term perspective: Xi
China always views ties with Ecuador from strategic, long-term perspective: Xi
China always views ties with Ecuador from strategic, long-term perspective: Xi
As the United States renews its diplomatic push to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a Chinese international affairs expert cautioned that a lasting peace remains elusive unless fundamental disputes over territory and security guarantees are addressed.
The Chinese expert's remarks came after U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday in efforts to revive Ukraine peace talks. They are also scheduled to visit Kiev the following day.
Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt strikes on each other's capital during the U.S. envoys' visits.
Teng Jianqun, a prominent Chinese international affairs expert, noted that the current geopolitical climate presents a genuine, albeit fragile, window of opportunity for peace.
"Looking at the current situation, this is indeed a window of opportunity. Since February of this year, the United States has primarily focused its attention on dealing with Iran. Now, six months later, Washington is once again urging a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, signaling that the U.S. has readjusted its strategic focus. In terms of battlefield dynamics, fighting on the frontline has become highly deadlocked. Therefore, it is a critical moment now for both sides to pause and negotiate a resolution to this conflict," said Teng.
Teng added that the U.S. has maintained communication with both Moscow and Kiev, which lays a necessary foundation for discussing a potential ceasefire.
However, the expert warned that significant obstacles remain, particularly regarding territorial sovereignty and the security guarantees that Ukraine demands.
"Given the current situation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, expecting Russia to withdraw, or asking Ukraine to accept a 'land for peace' plan, are both unacceptable to either side. Therefore, the core issue remains to be territorial sovereignty. Meanwhile, Ukraine's security guarantees represent another fundamental concern. If these two basic issues are unresolved, I believe the conflict will continue," said Teng.
Expert warns U.S. unlikely to end Ukraine crisis without resolving core issues
