The leaders of Colombia and Venezuela agreed to reopen portions of the border between their countries, one year after Venezuela closed the crossing in a dispute over security and smuggling.

CCTV America’s Michelle Begue reports.

A “new frontier of peace”, that is how Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro described the reopening of five pedestrian border crossings between Venezuela and Colombia beginning Saturday.

Maduro closed the crossing a year ago claiming to crackdown on smuggling and criminal groups.

The Venezuelan president said he hoped the re-openings would a new beginning for economic and trade relations between the two countries.

During the talks in the Venezuelan town of Puerto Ordaz, the top issue was security and the leaders agreed to set up a joint task force to combat organized crime.

Both leaders said advancements have been made. The border opening will be limited to 15 hours a day and the countries hope to exert strict control of those who pass through.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said both countries will continue to discuss the possibility of setting up Venezuelan petrol stations on the Colombian side, in an effort to curb fuel smuggling.

In a show of goodwill, the leaders announced a friendly football game between the local teams that will take place this Saturday.

Expert Bruno Binetti on Venezuela-Colombia border re-openings

For more on the agreement to re-open portions of Colombia-Venezuela border, CCTV America’s Asieh Namdar interviewed Bruno Binetti, of the Inter-American Dialogue, a policy organization dedicated to Western Hemispheric affairs.