President Xi Jinping arrives at the Quito airport, Ecuador on November 17, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that his visit to Ecuador, the first state visit by a Chinese head of state in 36 years, will make positive progress.

Xi made the remarks while delivering a speech at the Quito airport, where Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa hosted a grand ceremony to welcome Xi and the Chinese delegation.

"I come here with the deep friendship of Chinese people and the wish to develop bilateral ties," Xi said, adding that he was looking forward to the upcoming meetings with Ecuadorian leaders.

Referring to the major earthquake that struck Ecuador in April, Xi said that Chinese people empathized with the Ecuadorian people.

China has provided help to the Ecuadorian people in the rescue and reconstruction work, he added.

The 7.8-magnitude quake, which struck the northern Pacific coast of Ecuador, caused heavy loss of human lives and property damage. China had immediately announced that it would provide $2 million of cash and $60 million of materials for rescue and reconstruction.

The visit will build a solid bridge for the China-Ecuador cooperation, and bright bright future for the bilateral ties, he added.

The Chinese president is paying visits to Ecuador, Peru and Chile starting from Thursday. He will also attend the APEC leaders meeting in Lima, capital of Peru, over the weekend.