Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said that as from Friday, upon a meeting held with his Colombian counterpart Álvaro Uribe in western Falcón state, bilateral relations are starting a new era.

The Venezuelan president hailed the talks with President Uribe as helpful to "turn completely over a new leaf," following a political storm.

Chávez welcomed Uribe on Friday near 11:30 a.m. in the city of Punto Fijo, western Falcón state; a few minutes later both of them were visiting Amuay Refinery.

Shortly before his meeting with Uribe, President Chávez heralded a renewed momentum of bilateral relations. "Venezuela not only looks for peace in the hemisphere, but also seeks integration of our peoples, and this meeting is meant for rapprochement, re-launching, cooperation, peace and Latin American integration," he said.

"We need to take again the way, reactivate the relations. Now, this depends on many things. I am not to say anything in advance. I have said enough. Later on, we will offer a press conference," added Chávez.

The two presidents are expected to tour the Amuay refinery, 370 kilometers to the northeast of Caracas, before holding a private meeting and having lunch.

The reunion is basically aimed at burying months of cross criticism and insults that have dramatically affected border cooperation and substantial trade relations, as quoted by AFP.