Maduro welcomes Colombia's initiative to improve relations with his country

Caracas-Sana

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has welcomed an initiative by the Colombian Senate to set up a bilateral parliamentary commission to improve relations.

"We must solve our problems, organize and normalize diplomatic, trade, production and economic relations," Maduro said, urging Colombian businessmen to resume their investments in Venezuela.

But Maduro at the same time indicated that Colombian President Ivan Duque did not provide consular assistance to Venezuelans living in Colombia.

Diplomatic ties were severed between the two countries, which share a 2,200-km land border, in 2019 after Bogota recognized US-backed right-wing opponent Juan Guaido as Venezuela's "interim president".