La Paz, July 14 (RHC-Xinhua) -- Bolivian and Argentinean state-owned oil companies signed an agreement Wednesday for exploring and exploiting hydrocarbons in Charagua in the Bolivian Amazonian department of Santa Cruz.

Guillermo Acha, president of Bolivian firm Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), and Marcos Browne, vice president for gas and energy at Argentina's Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales (YPF), signed the document in the eastern Bolivian city of Santa Cruz.

Acha said these agreements were important for guaranteeing further exploration in the South American country, adding "YPF is coming back to our country as a new partner in exploratory activity."