BEIJING - China and Ecuador have agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement to promote their comprehensive strategic partnership, according to a joint statement issued Saturday after a meeting between the two countries' presidents.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso is paying an official visit to China during which he attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

The two sides agree to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement to tap trade potentials, optimize value chains, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and promote sustained, stable and diversified development of bilateral trade, said the statement.

The two sides also agree to continue to deepen investment cooperation in various areas, especially in digital economy and green development, it added.

Ecuador expresses appreciation for China's support in helping the South American country fight COVID-19 and providing vaccines, said the statement. Both sides reiterated that solidarity, mutual support and cooperation are the basis for overcoming the damage caused by COVID-19, it added.

The two sides agree to continue to strengthen cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and called on the international community to ensure that developing countries have access to such global public goods as vaccines and medicines in a fair, equitable, fast, united and affordable manner, based on the provisions of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 74/274, said the statement.

The two sides speak highly of the success of the third Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (China-CELAC Forum), and pledge to work together to deepen China-CELAC relations in the new era featuring equality, mutual benefit, innovation and openness which will benefit the people, and jointly build a community with a shared future, said the statement.

China supports Ecuador in hosting the 15th China-Latin America and the Caribbean Business Summit, it added.