Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping has made an appeal to maintain Latin America and the Caribbean as a "zone of peace," emphasizing the importance of their sovereign right to choose cooperation partners. Xi's remarks came during a meeting with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa in Beijing, as reported by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on the US social media platform X.

According to Anadolu Agency, Xi expressed China's commitment to respecting the independence of Latin American countries in their pursuit of development and revitalization. He stressed that these nations should not face external interference in their international cooperation efforts. Xi affirmed China's support for Latin American nations in maintaining regional peace and stability.

Xi further highlighted the strategic importance of China's relationship with Ecuador, stating that Beijing is committed to elevating bilateral relations to "new heights." This year marks the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Ecuador, a milestone that underscores the deepening ties between the two nations.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa commenced his first eight-day state visit to China on Sunday. The diplomatic relationship between China and Ecuador was officially established in January 1980, and the current bilateral trade volume between the two countries stands at $17.33 billion.