On January 5 local time, State Councilor and foreign minister Wang Yi held talks with Eritrean foreign minister Osman in Asmara. Wang Yi said that the Chinese foreign minister has paid his first visit to Africa at the beginning of 32 consecutive years. This demonstrates the unity and cooperation between China and Africa, and also shows that China's diplomacy has always been on the side of developing countries. Eritrea is the first country on this trip to Africa. China cherishes the traditional friendship between China and Eritrea and is willing to open up new prospects for the development of bilateral relations. The biggest achievement of this visit is that the two sides reached a consensus to upgrade China Ecuador relations to a strategic partnership, which is in the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and their peoples. China is willing to take this opportunity to promote all-round mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, open a new chapter in bilateral relations and better benefit the two peoples. The two sides should strengthen the implementation of the "nine projects" of the eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China Africa cooperation, so as to inject strong impetus into further cooperation. Wang Yi expressed that as strategic partners, China and Ecuador should more firmly support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. We should strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and multilateral affairs, hold high the banner of multilateralism and resist bullying and power politics. We will continue to promote the democratization of international relations and safeguard international fairness and justice. China will always stand on the side of its African brothers, and China's one vote in the United Nations will always belong to developing countries. Osman said that the establishment of a strategic partnership between Ecuador and China will push bilateral relations to a new height. *** Ecuador and China share common ideas on issues such as peace and stability, sovereign independence, mutually beneficial development, fairness and justice. Ecuador firmly adheres to the one China policy and supports China's just position on issues such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and the South China Sea. Standing with China is a consistent tradition of Eritrea. Eritrea is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China and jointly safeguard the legitimate interests of developing countries. After the talks, the two sides signed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of China and Ecuador. (Xinhua News Agency)