China and Colombia have officially signed a joint cooperation plan under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), strengthening their growing economic and strategic ties. This collaboration comes after a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Beijing, as reported by state media. The BRI, launched by Xi in 2013, aims to revive ancient trade routes and improve China’s global trade and infrastructure connections, with over 150 participating countries worldwide.
The agreement reflects China’s expanding influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, regions that have traditionally been of strategic importance to the United States. In recent years, trade between China and Latin America has flourished, with China becoming Colombia’s second-largest trading partner, overtaking the U.S. as the country’s primary source of imports. This growing commercial relationship has paved the way for deeper diplomatic cooperation, with China eager to support Colombia’s economic development.
President Xi assured Petro that China is ready to import more high-quality products from Colombia, support Colombian firms in their business ventures, and actively participate in infrastructure projects within the country. Xi’s statements highlight China’s commitment to helping Colombia grow its economy through enhanced trade and investment, particularly in sectors like infrastructure, where both countries see significant potential for collaboration.
Petro, who took office in August 2022, made his first official visit to China in October 2023, where he elevated Colombia’s relationship with China to a strategic partnership. This marked an important milestone in bilateral ties, which were originally established in 1980. The partnership aims to strengthen both countries’ economies, with a particular focus on trade, investment, and infrastructure development, areas in which the BRI plays a key role.
Despite growing ties with China, some countries in the region have hesitated to fully commit to the BRI. For example, Panama announced in February 2024 that it would exit the initiative, a decision China attributed to pressure from the United States. Nevertheless, Colombia’s commitment to the BRI signals its ongoing efforts to diversify its international relationships and leverage China’s growing economic power for the benefit of its own development.
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