President Chavez in Ecuador

Quito, Aug 9 (Prensa Latina) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez begins Thursday his official agenda in Ecuador, where he is to sign two strategic accords that will boost Latin American integration.

Upon his Wednesday night arrival, President Rafael Correa welcomed Chavez to his country "also a part of the big homeland as Cuban National Hero Jose Marti used to call Latin America." The agenda includes a ceremony that marks the 198th anniversary of the beginning of the struggle for Independence and an homage to Marshal Antonio Jose de Sucre at the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Chavez will then hold talks with Correa at the Palacio de Carondelet and sign two accords. Under the first, Petroecuador and Petroleo de Venezuela will build a heavy oil refinery in Manabi.

Ecuador Oil and Mining Minister Galo Chiriboga said the second allows PDVSA to run Sacha oil field, in Orellana province, ranked second in size and potential, and improve its refining facility.

At the end of the signing ceremony, Chavez will give a press conference and head to Bolivia, the last stop over in South American Tour.