Colombia and Venezuela Establish High-Level Bilateral Commission
Colombian Foreign Minister Carolina Barco and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Alí Rodríguez Araque have signed the Act of San Carlos creating a High Level Bi-national Commission to evaluate bilateral ties.

Barco and Rodríguez signed the accord following talks on infrastructure, security, and energy in a "creative and significant fraternal spirit," according to the Venezuelan minister.

Rodriguez noted that both nations are seeking a better quality of life for their populations as well as to achieve maximum potential for the region.

The Venezuelan minister made particular mention of Caracas´ support for the fight against drugs, noting "it is not enough to combat production and traffic" when "there is a gigantic market in societies with worrying signs of decadence."

Colombia's foreign minister reviewed the benefits that will accrue from the bilateral projects to connect San Fernando de Atabapo and Puerto Avacucho, and the Agua Clara-Guarumito corridor that will unite Santander, Colombia and Zulia in Venezuela.

Both ministers commented on the dynamic expansion of bi-national trade, which grew 147 percent in the past year.