President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal hosted Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso and First Lady María de Lourdes Alcívarfor a state dinner on Wednesday night to commemorate the South American leader's first visit to the country.
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Lasso announced during his historic visit that he has decided on a change of the country's UN voting policy, Ecuador will now vote with Israel, the Embassy of Ecuador tweeted.
Herzog toasted the visiting president and called Lasso's trip an "important and deeply significant step," according to a press statement.
Herzog expressed his gratitude to Lasso for Ecuador's decision to open an innovation office in Jerusalem and anticipated bilateral relations between the two countries would strengthen.
The Ecuadorian president was joined in Israel by a delegation of 100 people, including 50 specialists who will remain in Israel for two weeks to explore projects focusing on innovation, according to a report by The Jerusalem Post.
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Lasso said his trip signaled a new era in Israel-Ecuador ties.
"My government and I, personally, think that this visit represents a turning point in the relations between our countries. The relationship with Israel depends on us, Mr. President," Lasso said.
I am delighted to welcome @LassoGuillermo today on his historic visit as the first President of Ecuador to visit Israel. I congratulate him on opening an innovation office in our capital Jerusalem, a great step towards strengthening our relations.🇮🇱🤝🇪🇨 pic.twitter.com/JDKjMpFZLM
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) May 11, 2022
He thanked Herzog for the reception and said his Israel visit had met all his expectations.
"Our door is always open to collaboration and profound friendship. Now we know much better: Israel and Ecuador are sister states. We share a desire for joint progress and for peace," Lasso said.
Lasso also met with In addition to Herzog, Lasso met with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister and Prime Minister-designate Yair Lapid, and Economy and Industry Minister Orna Barbivay.
Ecuador's Foreign Affairs Minister Juan Carlos Holguín, Production, Foreign Trade, Investment Minister Julio José Prado, and Public-Private Alliance and Development Secretary Roberto Salas Guzmán accompanied Lasso at the inauguration of the country's innovation office in a festive ceremony held at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Innovation, Science, and Technology Minister Orit Farkash-Hacohen were also in attendance at the event.
The 100-person Ecuadorian delegation of government officials and businesspeople, together with the Alliance for Entrepreneurship and Innovation of Ecuador, joined President Lasso on the historic state visit.
As part of the visit, Lasso hosted a business conference aimed at deepening and developing investments in Israel. The delegation was also set to meet with Israel Innovation Authority head Ami Appelbaum and CEO tart-Up Nation Central CEO Avi Hasson to strengthen bilateral business ties.
Ecuador's Ambassador to Israel Helen Deller said, "This is the first time that a mission of such magnitude visits Israel from Ecuador, a reflection in itself of President Lasso's willingness to deepen the relations between the countries." She said: "A historic opportunity has been created to promote relations at all levels, including economic, technological, academic, security, and also political."
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
