Ecuadoran media spotlight Chinese president's visit

QUITO -- Ecuadoran media on Friday focused on Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Latin American country, which yielded fruitful results for bilateral ties.

During Xi's visit, the two countries decided to raise bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and signed several cooperation agreements, media outlets reported.

Prior to Xi's arrival, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa praised the visit as "the most important in the history" of Ecuador, and media outlets gave it due coverage.

El Comercio daily ran the headline "Xi Jinping arrived in Ecuador to seal the comprehensive partnership," while El Telegrafo reported that "China and Ecuador took another step to strengthen bilateral ties."

State news agency Andes also dedicated its front page to Xi's visit, reporting the accords signed, including China's pledge to further support in disaster relief and reconstruction for the areas devastated by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake in April.

President Correa said the visit marks a new stage in the bilateral relationship, which in the past nine years has reached "an unprecedented level, and even serves as a model for the region."

Ecuador is the first stop of Xi's three-country Latin America tour. He will travel on to Peru, where he will also participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, and then to Chile.

This is Xi's third visit to the region since he took office in March 2013.