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Guyana and Venezuela have agreed not to escalate tensions over the disputed Essequibo region, following a day of talks between the two countries’ presidents. 

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali met his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday, following threats from Caracas that it may annex the oil-and-mineral-rich region, which is controlled by Guyana. 

Venezuela has long regarded Essequibo as its own, and Caracas held a referendum on December 3 on making it a Venezuelan state, which was approved by voters and regarded by Guyana as a prelude to annexation. 

Maduro and Ali agreed to meet again to continue their talks at a later date.