The first South American energy summit started Monday in the Venezuelan island of Margarita, eastern Nueva Esparta state, with a meeting of the energy ministers looking for hemispheric union labeled by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa as "unavoidable."

"It is time to find a common present and future. Go ahead, Venezuela. Go ahead, South America. Go ahead, Latin America," said Correa, the first head of state arriving in the summit, where a dozen of rulers is expected.

During a brief appearance at Margarita international airport, the Ecuadorian president expressed hope to extend the union to all of Latin America, Efe reported.

Early afternoon, Argentinean President Néstor Kirchner landed also in Porlamar, the capital city of the island.