QUITO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The United States will provide nearly 1.5 million U.S. dollars of aid to Ecuador as the two countries agreed on Thursday to strengthen cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and corruption, visiting U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said.

The two countries issued a joint declaration after Pence met with Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, in which the two sides agreed to restore bilateral ties as their relations deteriorated in the past decade.

"Today we've opened a new way to both nations by ratifying the strong links and bonds that join our people together," Moreno said.

The United States is Ecuador's important trading partner. According to official data, 33 percent of Ecuador's exports went to the United States.

The two sides also talked about cooperation in trade, investment, migration, and security.

Pence said that the United States will help Ecuador fight against corruption with nearly 1.5 million dollars of aid.?