China and Ecuador agree to the mutual abolition of visas for tourism

The presidents of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, and China, Xi Jinping, signed today, January 7, an agreement for the mutual abolition of visas for tourism, plus eight other investment agreements, education, technology and cooperation.
In a bilateral meeting in Beijing within the state visit this week Correa hits China, the first by an Ecuadorian president, the two leaders agreed to Chinese financial institutions to invest USD 5296 million in the Latin American country. After being received with state honors at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Correa also reached agreements with Xi for creating a program of Chinese government scholarships to Ecuadorian students and exchange of technologies.
"We are among brothers," said the Ecuadorian president at the beginning of the meeting with Xi. He also recalled that last January 2nd fulfilled the 35th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and welcomed those which are currently "in the prime of his story." 

Ecuador's ambassador in China, José María Borja said in remarks to reporters before the bilateral meeting, the undersigned are "older Ecuador agreements with the PRC".
Ecuadorian citizens and Chinese will no longer need visas for tourist travel from one country to another, following the new agreement, which aims to boost the number of visitors from China in Latin America, said Borja.
"It will eliminate the visa for tourist purposes. That is, if someone wants to go to another country to engage in a commercial or education, still need visa," said the Ecuadorian ambassador to China. According to data provided by the Government of Ecuador, about 14,000 Chinese tourists came to the country in 2013 and about 10,000 in 2012, figures now aim to increase.
The loans agreed with the Import and Export Bank of China (Eximbank), Bank of China and China Development Bank, said Borja, represent "a significant amount of funding for development projects in Ecuador".
Finance Minister of Ecuador, Fausto Herrera, explained that these funds will go towards mobility projects, education, health and safety and that, on average, have 30 year term and 2tanto por ciento interest, in a press conference Tuesday in Beijing. Correa stated during the meeting with Xi that currently more than 80 Chinese companies working in Ecuador.
"And we hope will be many more," said the Ecuadorian president, this Friday, when visiting Shanghai, intends firms more agreements with companies of China.