BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping extended congratulations to former Ecuadorian Vice President Lenin Moreno on Wednesday on his election as the country's head of state.
In a congratulatory message, Xi said China and Ecuador share a profound traditional friendship and enjoy close high-level exchanges and ever deepening cooperation in various fields.
In 2016, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership and their relations entered a new phase of development, Xi added.
Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Ecuador relations and hopes to work together with Moreno to further develop the relationship and bring more benefits to the two peoples.
Moreno won the presidency with a pledge to deepen social welfare programs initiated by his predecessor Rafael Correa.
