Off the wire
• Xi hopes Chinese community in U.S. contributes more to Sino-American friendship  • Top Chinese striker may be fined for not selected into national team  • S.Korea's trade terms improve for 12 months despite slowing exports  • RMB as reserve currency good to LatAm, says Argentine expert  • China treasury bond futures close higher Thursday  • China Hushen 300 index futures close higher on Thursday  • China's Internet policy chief urges China-U.S. cooperation in cybergovernance  • "Mission: Impossible" dominates China's box office  • Tokyo stocks plunge 2.76 pct amid global growth jitters after holiday  • Private consumption in S.Korea recovers ahead of traditional holiday  
You are here: 　 Home

Venezuelan president hails breakthrough in Colombia peace talks

Xinhua, September 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday hailed the "historic progress" in peace talks between the Colombian government and the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

"Congratulations, Colombia. Peace with justice is announced. All our support from the homeland of Bolivar and Chavez," said Maduro in his Twitter account.

Venezuela has been one of the accompanying countries in the process for nearly three years. Maduro said Tuesday in his weekly TV program that the peace process was too slow and called on both sides to speed up.

He also vowed to help the Colombian government and FARC to complete the process and described it as a "supreme goal" in his government's foreign policy.

Wednesday's announcement has led to a historic handshake between Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono Echeverri, also known as Timoleon Jimenez. The two sides had reached a landmark understanding about how to bring their long civil war to an end.

Santos and the FARC rebel leader also agreed that the guerrillas would lay down arms within 60 days after signing the deal. The official deadline was March 23, 2016.

If successful, it would end the conflict that has killed 220,000 people and displaced millions over half a century. Endi