Ecuador willing to be good friend of China on other side of Pacific Ocean: president

China

Ecuador willing to be good friend of China on other side of Pacific Ocean: president

2026-08-19 01:42 Last Updated At：09:37

Ecuador is always willing to be a good friend of China on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, President of the Republic of Ecuador Daniel Roy-Gilchrist Noboa Azin said during talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday.

Noboa is on a state visit to China from Aug. 16 to 23 at the invitation of Xi. This is his first state visit to China.

Prior to the talks in the Great Hall of the People, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Noboa.

A large number of Ecuadorian reporters were present to cover the event.

"In Ecuador, we deeply admire China's scientific and technological development. What China has achieved in science and technology and artificial intelligence is truly remarkable. We look forward to continued and more open exchanges with China," said Vargas Salazar Jose Jonathan, an Ecuadorian journalist.

During the talks, Xi noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Ecuador comprehensive strategic partnership, adding that no matter how the international landscape changes, China has always viewed China-Ecuador relations from a strategic and long-term perspective.

China stands ready to work continuously with Ecuador to elevate bilateral relations to new heights and deliver greater benefits to the people of both countries, he said.

Calling China an important partner and friend of Ecuador, Noboa said bilateral relations have entered a new phase, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples.

"Ecuador is a very young country, and many of our young people still lack opportunities. But I believe that if our two countries strengthen connections, it can bring transformation for the youth and benefits for both sides. Under President Xi's great leadership, we look to China with admiration and a willingness to learn. I assure you that on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, there will always be a good friend like Ecuador," said Noboa.

Chinese robot maker Unitree surges 629.44 pct on Shanghai market debut

Chinese robot maker Unitree Robotics made its debut on the Shanghai Stock Exchange's sci-tech innovation board, or STAR Market, on Wednesday, with shares surged 629.44 percent to open at 1,100 yuan (about 161.99 U.S. dollars).

The Hangzhou-based company is offering about 40.45 million shares at 150.8 yuan (about 22.2 U.S. dollars) each, corresponding to a price-to-earnings ratio of 219.23 times, according to its prospectus.

Unitree said the funds raised will go toward intelligent robot model development, robot hardware R and D, new product development and manufacturing base construction, as the business moves from robot manufacturing toward building a broader ecosystem for high-performance general-purpose robots.

Unitree's listing comes as China's robotics sector gains global prominence. Chinese companies accounted for nearly 70 percent of global quadruped robot sales in the first half of 2026, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Market forecasts point to continued growth. Global humanoid robot shipments are projected to exceed 510,000 units by 2030, growing at a compound annual rate of about 95 percent, according to International Data Corporation, a market researcher.

Founded in 2016, Unitree has emerged as one of China's leading robotics firms, specializing in the development of quadruped and humanoid robots, with fully self-developed core components including motors, reducers, controllers and LiDAR.

Its humanoid robot shipments surpassed 5,500 units in 2025, ranking first globally with a 32.4 percent share of the world market, according to a 2025 humanoid robot market research report.

Benefiting from the gradual expansion of downstream application scenarios for humanoid robots and sustained market demand, the company posted revenue of about 1.15 billion yuan (about 170 million U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2026, up 48.54 percent year on year.