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LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

September 4, 2026

How Is Ecuador Balancing Ties With China & the U.S.?

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa, a key Trump administration ally in Latin America, met last month with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss closer cooperation and increased investment. // Photo: Ecuadorean Government

Q

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa in mid-August made an eight-day state visit to China, where he met with President Xi Jinping. The two discussed opportunities for expanded trade and greater Chinese investment in Ecuador, and Noboa sought to strengthen Ecuador’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. Noboa, who also visited Singapore and Vietnam during his trip to Asia, called China an important friend and partner. What did Noboa accomplish during his trip, and to what extent is Ecuador deepening its relationship with China? How important is China to Ecuador’s economy, and what would China get from closer relations with Ecuador? How is Noboa balancing Ecuador’s relationships with China and the United States?

A

Featured Expert Commentary:

Nathalie CelyPresident of the Centro de Competitividad in Quito and former Ecuadorean ambassador to the United States
Guo CunhaiSenior research fellow at the Institute of Latin American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Sebastián HurtadoCEO & founder of PRóFITAS in Quito
Eileen Gavin Head of sovereign analysis at Verisk Maplecroft

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Board of Advisors

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Government Relations, Arcos Dorados

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

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