Ecuador, Venezuela sign energy cooperation agreements

QUITO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador and Venezuela signed two agreements on energy cooperation here on Tuesday.

According to the agreements signed by Ecuadorean President Alfredo Palacio and his visiting Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, Caracas will offer Quito technical support to boost its oil infrastructure.

Venezuela will also help refine up to 100,000 barrels of Ecuador's crude oil per day.

The deals will save about 300 million U.S. dollars each year for Ecuador, Ecuadorean officials said.

Chavez, in a speech during his visit, rebutted those who had accused Venezuela of using oil as a tool to seek political alliance. He defended that the control of natural resources was of great importance to a country's independence and sovereignty.