Venezuela and Colombian presidents discuss trade, human rights

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, Armando Benedetti, Colombian ambassador to Venezuela and Colombia's President Gustavo Petro react at Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela November 1, 2022. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

CARACAS (Reuters) - The presidents of Colombia and Venezuela held their first bilateral meeting in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, on Tuesday, where they discussed topics including trade, human rights and protecting the Amazon rainforest.

The neighbors' fraught relationship has improved since Colombian President Gustavo Petro - the Andean country's first leftist leader - took office in August on promises to fully restart trade with Venezuela.