"For some time we have been talking about the needs of opening the border, for both peoples…In recent months what is clear is that we will open the border in a controlled manner and gradually," Santos said after a Thursday meeting with Maduro.
The high-level meeting between the two leaders was held in the Venezuelan city of Puerto Ordaz. According to a "border facilitation" document agreed on Thursday, a pedestrian crossing will be maintained at the border during daytime hours.
The Venezuelan-Colombian border, stretching for over 1,300 miles, has been closed by the order of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro since August 2015 amid crackdowns on migrants and smugglers.
Venezuela has been in a state of an economic emergency since January with product shortages having become widespread in the country. Venezuela’s opposition has blamed Maduro for the economic crisis.
