Article Posted on : - Oct 25, 2009

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. A file photo.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia will sign an agreement on strategic partnership with Ecuador during an official visit of President Rafael Correa in Moscow on October 29.

According to Latin American media report, Ecuadorian President Correa will start his European tour on Sunday with the visit to the U.K. and will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Fander Falconi, Defense Minister Javier Ponce and other high-ranking government officials.

Correa said on the eve of his trip to Europe that Ecuador was interested in the strengthening of relations with Russia in trade and defense and his upcoming visit would be primarily focused on "the implementation of earlier signed agreements," RIA Novosti reports.

The leader of Ecuador has also expressed interest in loans to purchase Russian-made military equipment.

Ecuador is one of Russia's key partners in Latin America, trailing only Brazil and Argentina in trade with Moscow. Last year saw a record volume of trade between Russia and Ecuador, totaling $935.7 million. The Russian-Ecuadorian inter-governmental commission for trade and economic cooperation will hold its first meeting in 20 years in Moscow on October 28 prior to Correa's official visit, it said.

The commission includes five working groups on trade and business, military-technological cooperation, energy, agriculture, science, technologies and education, the report said.