The two countries severed diplomatic relations in February 2019 amid a border crisis related to supplies of humanitarian aid to Venezuela.
According to Rodriguez, the president of the Senate (upper house of the Colombian Congress), Juan Diego Gomez Jimenez, responded positively to the proposal of the Venezuelan side to launch the negotiation process.
"[We will discuss] the following issues: first, normalization of diplomatic relations, second, normalization of trade and business relations, including mutual protection of companies in each other's countries," the Venezuelan speaker told reporters.
Mass protests against President Nicolas Maduro shortly after he was sworn in began in Venezuela on January 21, 2019. The head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, Juan Guaido, illegally proclaimed himself interim head of state. Some Western countries, led by the United States, announced his recognition. Maduro called Guaido a US puppet. Russia, China, Turkey and some other states backed Maduro as legitimate president. Moscow called Guaido's "presidential status" non-existent.
Maduro and Colombian President Ivan Duque have exchanged accusations on several occasions.