Colombia and Venezuela open key border bridge

Colombia and Venezuela on Sunday inaugurated a key bridge linking the two countries that had been closed for nearly seven years amid political tensions, ushering in a new era of improved relations under Colombia's New Leftist president.

Delegations led by Umaña and the governor of the Venezuelan state of Táchira, Freddy Bernal, gathered at the center of the "Tienditas" bridge for an opening ceremony with balloons in the colors of the flags of each country.

The bridge, which cost more than $32 million to build, was designed to decongest the other two binational bridges in the area and facilitate trade. Diplomatic and commercial relations between Colombia and Venezuela were re-established in September following the inauguration of Gustavo Petro - a former guerrilla - as Colombia's president.