The Colombian government resumed peace talks with the ELN after Petro was elected a year ago, as the leftist leader seeks to put an end to decades of armed conflict with guerrilla groups.
"Never before in modern history has the ELN been in this position, speaking from the heart of Colombia," Petro told a crowd of hundreds, including farmers, Indigenous communities, military and civil society representatives.
He said the meeting, seen by thousands on television, "will generate hope."
"This act, watched by thousands of Colombian men and women," through television, "begins to generate hope," added Petro, who has attended negotiations with the ELN in Mexico, Venezuela, and Cuba, where the ceasefire was agreed in June.
On July 4 both parties said they would stop attacking each other ahead of the ceasefire.
The head of the ELN delegation, Pablo Beltran, said it was his first visit to Bogota in 31 years.
The guerrilla leader lived much of his life in hiding in Colombia, but has been mostly living in Cuba since prior peace talks were called off in 2019 after an attack that left 20 policemen dead.
Beltran said Petro's presence at the meeting was a sign of the government's goodwill.
"We see this as its commitment to the peace process, we see it as being in good faith," said the 69-year-old rebel.
Founded in 1964, the National Liberation Army, or ELN, had more than 5,800 combatants in 2022, according to authorities. Of Marxist orientation, it is Colombia's last active guerrilla group.
If it holds, the ceasefire would be the longest ever agreed to by the ELN, which has taken part in failed negotiations with Colombia's last five governments.
The ELN is primarily active in the Pacific region and along the 2,200-kilometer (1,370-mile) border with Venezuela.
The much larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, laid down arms in a historic peace accord reached in 2016.
However, Colombia has continued to be gripped by violence as fighting continues over territory and resources between dissident FARC guerrillas, the ELN, paramilitary forces and drug cartels.
Petro is also attempting to negotiate with these other armed groups.
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