Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Friday were holding "frank" talks as they sought to patch up ties between the two countries following the strong verbal clashes of recent months.

Meeting in the Amuay oil complex in the western Venezuelan state of Falcon, the two leaders have fallen out over Colombia's decades- long conflict with the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Dressed in his trademark red shirt, the leftist Chavez shook hands with Uribe and they posed for photographers in a friendly atmosphere.

"It will surely be a very frank meeting, but also surely affectionate because at the bottom of my soul, what I have for Colombia is affection, love. There is a potential for our countries, for our economies," Chavez said.

"We have a need to regainthe path, to re-activate relations. Now, that depends on a lot of things," Chavez said. "Venezuela is not just looking for peace but it is also a part in Latin American integration, rapprochement, cooperation."

Venezuelan media said the meeting - formally focused on bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, railroads and other infrastructure - was to discuss Colombian allegations that Chavez gave support to FARC.

A cross-border raid by Colombian forces onto Ecuadorian territory killed FARC number two Raul Reyes on March 1. His computers were seized, and Colombian officials have said they link Chavez to rebel activity beyond his past role as mediator designated by Uribe himself.

Uribe, in turn, arrives at the meeting on a surge of popularity following the rescue by Colombian forces last week of former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 14 others held hostage by FARC. (dpa)