China and Colombia have signed a cooperation plan within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), marking Colombia’s official entry into this massive global project. The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, aims to revive the historical Silk Road through a modern infrastructure and economic network connecting over 150 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
During a meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who was in Beijing for the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that this agreement offers an opportunity to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, trade, and sustainable development. This move reflects China’s growing influence in Latin America, where it is already the largest trading partner for several countries.
Latin America has become a key region for geopolitical competition between China and the United States. China, Colombia’s second-largest trading partner after the US, expresses its readiness to increase imports of high-quality Colombian products and support Chinese companies in infrastructure construction, including railway corridors and renewable energy projects. In the first four months of 2025, bilateral trade reached $6.7 billion USD, demonstrating the economic potential of the cooperation. However, US pressure, such as Panama’s withdrawal from the BRI, poses certain challenges to China’s ambitions, especially given the region’s strategic importance to the US. Nevertheless, Colombia’s accession to the BRI confirms the success of China’s diplomatic maneuvers, which simultaneously strengthen economic cooperation and political influence in the Global South.
The year 2025 marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia, which Xi Jinping called a “new historical starting point.” He emphasized the need to strengthen political trust and deepen cooperation in education, culture, and tourism to increase people-to-people exchanges and consolidate the public foundation of bilateral friendship. Gustavo Petro said that Colombia is ready to strengthen its strategic partnership with China, especially in areas such as new energy, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure, which serve to improve people’s lives.
The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described its membership in the BRI as a “historic step” that opens new opportunities for investment, technological cooperation, and sustainable development. Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia stated that this agreement creates “endless possibilities” for trade, investment, and tourism, while Petro noted on social media that “the history of Colombia’s foreign relations is changing,” implying global integration based on equality and freedom. These statements underscore Colombia’s ambition to become a more active player in the global economy with China’s support.
China presents itself as a supporter of the Global South and a multilateral order. Within the framework of the China-CELAC Forum, Xi Jinping announced $9.2 billion USD in development credit, focusing on infrastructure, clean energy, and the fight against transnational crime. Colombia’s contribution as the pro tempore president of CELAC to the forum’s success has strengthened its role in cooperation with China, serving the vision of a “shared future.” This vision is part of South-South cooperation and reflects China’s efforts to strengthen its influence in developing countries.
