Quito, April 17 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Ecuador's President Rafael Correa announced on Thursday that Francisco Borja, brother of former President Rodrigo Borja, will be the new ambassador to the United States.

Francisco Borja had been Ambassador to Chile and to China between 2007 and 2014, and was currently serving as Culture and Heritage Minister.

The new ambassador will replace Nathalie Cely, the current Ecuadorean ambassador in the U.S. “Today the United States approved the new ambassador Francisco Borja,” announced President Correa during a press conference in the city of Azogues, in the province of Cañar.

U.S. and Ecuador trade reached $19 billion last year. Before becoming involved in politics, Borja was a journalist for Hoy newspaper and Teleamazonas TV network.

Cely will now take over the Ministry of Industries and Production.