Ecuador, Chile, and El Salvador Strengthen Ties During Visits to China

President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna of Chile, and Legislative Assembly President Ernesto Castro of El Salvador are visiting China this week to deepen commercial and institutional ties. President Noboa is conducting a state visit that includes meetings with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Zhao Leji. His agenda focuses on securing Chinese investment in energy and mining and lifting suspensions on shrimp exporters. While Beijing has framed the visit as a celebration of a decade of comprehensive strategic partnership, center right framing suggests Noboa is balancing these economic goals without threatening his government's deepening security ties with the United States.

Ecuador's trade with China is highlighted by a free trade agreement that entered into force in 2024. In January, Ecuador saw increases in the value of copper and frozen shrimp exports to China. However, the country maintains a trade deficit with the Asian giant, reporting a deficit of 1.901 billion dollars in 2025. Noboa's agenda also includes discussions regarding debt with the Eximbank of China and the maintenance of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant.

Chilean Foreign Minister Pérez Mackenna is visiting Beijing and Shanghai to meet with his counterpart Wang Yi and participate in the Choose Chile program to attract investment. China remains Chile's primary trading partner, with bilateral exchange reaching 67.105 billion dollars in 2025. Chile is noted as one of the few countries maintaining a trade surplus with China, which exceeded 14.300 billion dollars in 2025.

Ernesto Castro is visiting China until August 22 at the invitation of Zhao Leji. His visit follows a meeting with the Chinese ambassador in San Salvador to discuss bilateral legislative cooperation. El Salvador is currently negotiating its own free trade treaty with China.