Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador, landed early Friday in Manuel Carlos Piar airport, located in the city of Puerto Ordaz, southern Bolívar state, in the context of an official visit.

He was welcomed in the airport by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro, Minister of Basic Industries and Mining Rodolfo Sanz, Bolívar state governor Francisco Rangel Gómez and Ecuadorian ambassador to Venezuela René Vargas Pazos, reported state-run news agency Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias (ABN).

Correa's visit is intended to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the energy field.

Both the Ecuadorian president and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez are expected to execute on Friday an agreement on the potential joint development of the Ayacucho oilfield, located at the Orinoco Oil Belt.