Guillermo Lasso (C), president of Ecuador, talks with Chinese entrepreneurs during the forum on Feb 4 via video link. [Photo/Sinomach]

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso, who came to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and related activities, hosted a business forum on Feb 4 to discuss with Chinese entrepreneurs on deepening cooperation between China and Ecuador.

This is Lasso's first visit to China since he was elected president of Ecuador in April 2021.

Zhang Xiaolun, chairman of Sinomach, attended the forum and delivered a speech on behalf of Chinese entrepreneurs.

Noting that Chinese enterprises including Sinomach have worked for the benefit of economic and social development in Ecuador, Lasso gave an update on Ecuador's trade and legal policies, and called for more efforts to pursue a mutually beneficial partnership in which the parties work together to explore more areas for cooperation and to push the bilateral relationship to a higher level.

Sinomach Chairman Zhang Xiaolun attends the business forum online on Feb 4. [Photo/Sinomach]

Zhang gave a warm welcome to the president and his follow-up group for their visit to China and presence at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the diplomatic boycott of the Games. He also thanked the Ecuadorian government for its long-term trust and support for the company.

Zhang said that China and Ecuador have made important progress in economic and trade cooperation in recent years and expanded areas of cooperation, and noted that Sinomach has launched a number of key projects for public well-being in Ecuador that have promoted the country's economic and social development and improved local people's livelihoods, a good example of practical cooperation between the two countries.

Zhang highlighted that the Chone hospital, a Sinomach-aided construction project in Ecuador, has further raised the country's healthcare level and its ability to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that the company will strengthen in-depth cooperation with Ecuador in areas such as carbon peaking, carbon neutrality, public health, infrastructure development and renewable energy, with a focus on the development concept of "innovation, harmony, going green, openness and shared benefits".