Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in Beijing Wednesday with President Lucio Gutierrez Borbua of the Republic of Ecuador.

Wen spoke highly of Sino-Ecuadorian relations, saying that since the two countries set up diplomatic ties there have been frequent high-level exchanges and fruitful economic and trade cooperation between them. The bilateral trade volume in 2002 was an increase of 20 times compared with the years before 1980, when diplomatic ties were established. In addition, economic and technological cooperation has developed from being restricted to traditional industries to new- and hi-tech industries. Projects aided by China in Ecuador have resulted in good economic and social benefits.

He said that both China and Ecuador are developing countries. They need to further reinforce their cooperation in international affairs as well as in developing their domestic economies. The Chinese side attaches great importance to Sino-Ecuadorian relations and is willing to step up friendly cooperation in various fields in accordance with the principles of equality and mutual benefit.

He also introduced to the guest China's economic conditions and expressed appreciation for the Ecuadorian government's adherence to the "one-China" policy.

Gutierrez said that the Ecuadorian government upholds the "one-China" policy. Over the past more than 20 years since diplomatic ties were set up between them, the two countries have made fruitful achievements in political, economic and trade cooperation. The Ecuadorian people treasure their friendship with the Chinese people, he added.

He expressed the wish that more Chinese enterprises would participate in Ecuador's economic construction, and constantly expand the fields of economic and trade cooperation, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2003)