Beijing, September 18th—Ma Hui, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with Jaime Barberis, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador.

Ma said, the Chinese side attaches great importance to the development of China-Ecuador relations and is willing to work with the Ecuadorian side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, support each other on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns, and better benefit the two countries and two peoples.

Barberis said, the Ecuadorian side attaches great importance to developing relations with China and admires China's development achievements. Next year will mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ecuador. The Ecuadorian side is willing to take this opportunity to push the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level.