Colombian President Begins Visit to China

On Tuesday, the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, arrived in Beijing to kick off his international agenda in China. His schedule includes discussions on bilateral trade, the New Silk Road Initiative (BRI), and the construction of the Bogota Metro.

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Petro landed at Beijing International Airport for a three-day visit, during which he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 25.

"Aside from the obvious global significance of China and the need for Colombia to build strong relations in an increasingly multipolar world, there are several aspects to consider," Petro said, adding that Colombia stands to benefit from the infrastructure development associated with the Belt and Road Initiative.

"In the case of Colombia, we have a special role in connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This essentially makes us a global trade gateway, which could be more than just an opportunity for Colombia in terms of railway infrastructure development, a vital aspect today."

For this reason, Petro aims to "revive the national railway network," which is currently nearly non-existent, except for some private cargo routes.

With this trip, Petro continues Colombia's pragmatic policy of friendship with China, which began with the establishment of diplomatic relations on February 7, 1980.

Since then, the relationship has grown, and in 2010, China became Colombia's second-largest trading partner, surpassed only by the United States.

In 2022, bilateral trade amounted to approximately US$18 billion, with US$2 billion attributed to Colombian exports and US$16 billion to imports of Chinese goods and services.