Government representatives from China and Turkey on Wednesday toured Ecuador's quake-hit areas and assessed reconstruction cooperation between them.
In the "ground zero," the area worst hit by a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake which hit Ecuador in April, the Chinese representatives assessed medical and educational infrastructure, as well as utilities and other services key to the reconstruction and post-construction plan.
The Chinese were joined by a Turkish delegation from Istanbul, which arrived here on Monday. Their tour was accompanied by Ecuador's Minister of Security and Coordination Cesar Navas.
Following the site inspection, the representatives met with Ecuadorian officials from the Technical Secretariat for Reconstruction as well as local governments to better determine the needs of the affected communities, the ministry of security and coordination said.
The visit aimed to "strengthen the international humanitarian aid related to the process of reconstruction and economic recovery in the areas damaged by the earthquake," said the ministry in a press release.
The quake, which rumbled through Manabi and neighboring Esmeraldas province to the north, killed 668 people and displaced around 80,000 inhabitants. Eight people are still missing.
The reconstruction is estimated to cost some 3.344 billion U.S. dollars, according to the National Planning and Development Secretariat.
Navas has earlier met with representatives of the National Disaster Mitigation Center of China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, and Ji Xiaofeng, commercial counselor from the Chinese Embassy, among other Chinese officials.` The minister has also met with Turkish Ambassador to Ecuador Korkut Gungen and coordinator of the Turkish International Development and Cooperation Agency Memet Ozkan.
"At both meetings, (officials) talked about the possibilities for cooperation in rebuilding and reactivating productivity," said the ministry.
Navas also expressed Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's appreciation "for the significant humanitarian aid provided by both countries."
The minister underscored China and Turkey's help in mitigating the impact of the disaster by helping set up temporary shelters for the homeless.
