Ecuador's Lasso is demonstrating democracy can deliver, U.S.'s Blinken says

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso address the media, in Quito, Ecuador October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Santiago Arcos/Pool

Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso is demonstrating that democracy can deliver real results for people, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday, ahead of a meeting between the two men in Quito.

Ecuador is the first stop on a three-day tour by Blinken, which will also see him head to Colombia for meetings with Colombia's president and regional foreign ministers.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso shake hands as they address the media, in Quito, Ecuador October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Santiago Arcos/Pool

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Alexandra Valencia in Quito; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Leslie Adler)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso walk to address the media, in Quito, Ecuador October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Santiago Arcos/Pool

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso address the media, in Quito, Ecuador October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Santiago Arcos/Pool REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso walk to address the media, in Quito, Ecuador October 19, 2021. REUTERS/Santiago Arcos/Pool