Venezuela, Angola Signed a Mysterious Contract

Venezuela announced Thursday that it will place at Angola's disposal "experience and high technology" in petroleum exploration, according to Venezuelan Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez.

The announcement was made after signing an accord with his Angolan counterpart, Desiderio Costa.

Officials did not not provide details of the pact, but Ramirez told reporters that the agreement signed Thursday evening will begin to be implemented within the next two months.

Costa, for his part, said he was happy to have "such an important partner" as Venezuela, the world's fifth-leading oil exporter and a key supplier to the United States.

Chavez arrived Thursday in Luanda at the end of a world tour that took him to China, Malaysia and Syria and made him the first Venezuelan head of government to make an official visit to this African nation since it obtained independence from Portugal in 1975.