Caracas, July 06 (teleSUR-RHC) The Venezuelan government issued a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday, congratulating the United States on the celebration of the 219th anniversary of the country’s independence on July 4.

In the letter, the Venezuelan government issued encouraging remarks regarding bilateral relations between the two nations stating, “we hope to continue building relations based on respect, equality and rooted in the principles of International Law.”

The document praised President Barack Obama’s efforts to redefine U.S. foreign policy based on the acknowledgment of past mistakes, in reference to the move towards normalization of relations with Cuba.

Venezuela, which is celebrating its 204th year of Independence on Sunday, also received a congratulatory letter from US Secretary Kerry to mark its freedom from Spanish colonial rule. “I look forward to further cooperation between our people and governments as we seek ways to improve a historically strong relationship that has endured for nearly two centuries,” Kerry’s statement read.

Both countries have made efforts to reduce the tensions in recent weeks, after Washington had previously declared Venezuela represented an “extraordinary threat” to the United States to impose sanctions on the country and top Venezuelan officials.

The move was blasted by the region’s leaders, with the Union of South American Nation’s and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States opposing the U.S. statement.