Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that his previously delayed meeting with Colombian leftist rebels will take place "in coming days."

Speaking after a meeting here with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Chavez said that his efforts to mediate an exchange of hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the country's largest rebel group, for guerrillas held by the government was going well.

"In coming days, we will meet with the FARC, and this meeting will be of critical importance," Chevez told reporters.

The Venezuelan president said earlier that this meeting "would be indispensable" because it will be used to present FARC leader Manuel Marulanda with proposals, on which he had been working.

"We are on the right track," Chavez said. "We face enough difficulties, but I am confident our determination will help us overcome them."