Venezuela's Maduro greets Biden, urges improved ties with US

Last year saw a rapid deterioration of relations between their countries, but on New Year's Day, US Vice-President Joe Biden and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro shook hands and expressed their desire for restored ties.

The brief, impromptu meeting in Brazil came two weeks after US President Barack Obama signed legislation to impose sanctions on Venezuelan officials accused of violating human rights. Days before the sanctions were approved, Maduro had called on all Venezuelans to burn their US visas in protest of "imperialist Yankee" policies.

A photograph of Biden and Maduro smiling warmly at each other at the swearing-in of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff became a meme on Friday, with Venezuelans inventing their own thought bubbles.

According to a US administration official travelling with the vice-president, Maduro told Biden he wanted to improve US-Venezuela ties, but was concerned about the sanctions. The official insisted on not being quoted by name in discussing what was a private diplomatic conversation.

Biden said that one step Venezuela could take towards improving relations would be to release political prisoners, but Maduro responded that the opposition was destabilising the country and sanctions would do the same, the official said.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Maduro described the meeting with Biden as cordial.