China and Ecuador have made substantial progress in economic and trade cooperation, with bilateral trade growing rapidly and collaboration expanding in areas including infrastructure and energy and mining, a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

He Yadong said the two countries have deepened political trust and achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation under the strategic guidance of their leaders. Bilateral trade reached $9.83 billion in the first half of 2026, up more than 20% year on year, making China Ecuador's second-largest trading partner.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Roy Gilchrist Noboa Azín is currently visiting China. On Tuesday, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a roadmap for economic and trade cooperation and a memorandum of understanding on supporting free trade and multilateralism, according to the Chinese spokesperson.

The agreements will strengthen economic and trade coordination and promote cooperation in trade and investment, agricultural and food products, e-commerce and sustainable development, He said.

The two sides also agreed to jointly implement their free trade agreement, refrain from discriminatory economic and trade measures against each other, and maintain communication and exchange information on trade measures involving third countries, he added.

China stands ready to work with Ecuador to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, make better use of mechanisms including the bilateral economic and trade commission, and further upgrade bilateral economic and trade cooperation, He said.

(Cover: File photo of He Yadong, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. /VCG)