Xi says China backs Latin America self-reliance

China's President Xi Jinping told Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa in Beijing on Tuesday that China supports Latin American countries in "upholding independence and self-reliance", Xinhua reported.

Noboa is on a week-long visit to China that began Sunday. Xinhua said the two leaders met in the Great Hall of the People, where Xi called for China and Ecuador to build political trust and expand cooperation in energy, minerals, infrastructure and finance.

Xinhua quoted Xi as saying Latin America and the Caribbean should remain a "zone of peace" and that countries in the region should be free to choose partners.

Ecuador's National Chamber of Aquaculture said Monday that China had restored export access for eight Ecuadoran shrimp plants after months of negotiations and technical work.