Venezuela's Maduro hails reopening of border with Colombia

Speaking from the presidential palace in Caracas on Monday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro welcomed the official reopening of the Colombian-Venezuelan border after years of closure and broken diplomatic relations. Maduro thanked his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, for the border reopening. "I send to President Gustavo Petro the gratitude of more than 30 million Venezuelan men and women for this immense step we have taken to restore relations of brotherhood, union, cooperation and complementarity among our people, which is the most important thing", Maduro said.

Truckloads of aluminium and medicines crossed the bridge connecting Colombia and Venezuela on Monday for the first time in seven years following the restoration of diplomatic relations, giving businesses in the region hope of increased trade. It was once the busiest crossing between the two South American nations. Residents of border areas and business owners in both countries expect the resumption of cargo traffic to generate jobs and reduce the thriving illegal commerce.