Gustavo Petro, the first ever left-wing President of Colombia, paid a state visit to China, October 24-26, at the invitation of Xi Jinping.
The two leaders held talks on the afternoon of October 25 and announced the elevation of the China-Colombia relationship to a strategic partnership.
Xi Jinping noted that the establishment of the strategic partnership between China and Colombia is the result of the longtime efforts of all sectors of the two countries, and also a natural manifestation of mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides. It should be cherished by both sides and continuously enriched and developed.
China is ready to work with Colombia to advance the strategic partnership to bring greater benefits to the two peoples and inject positive energy into world peace and development. He further stressed that China supports Colombia’s independent exploration of a development path suited to its national conditions, supports the peace process in the country, and hopes that Colombia can realize comprehensive, enduring, and sustainable peace at an early date.
China-Colombia relations are based on equality, mutual benefit and win-win results. Colombia is welcome to join the big family of the Belt and Road cooperation at an early date to achieve common development and prosperity. And China also welcomes Colombia to join the Global Clean Energy Cooperation Partnership proposed by China and share the green development opportunities.
Xi Jinping congratulated Colombia on taking over the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in 2025. He pointed out that China attaches great importance to developing relations with CELAC and is ready to continue to support the regional integration process in Latin America and the Caribbean, and work with CELAC to take the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC Forum next year as an opportunity to promote the steady and long-term development of China-CELAC relations in the new era.
Gustavo Petro said he is glad to visit China again after many years. Today’s China and the world have undergone great changes, and the theory and practice of China’s revolution and development are deeply enlightening. Colombia attaches great importance to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) put forward by President Xi Jinping. With the establishment of the Colombia-China strategic partnership, Colombia is ready to synergise its geographical advantage and development strategies with the BRI, strengthen cooperation with China in infrastructure, clean energy and other fields, welcome Chinese companies’ investment in Colombia, and promote more balanced development of bilateral trade relations. This will help Colombia advance its domestic peace process and realise the peace, stability and employment growth that its people have longed for, and enhance regional and global connectivity.
The Colombian side is also ready to maintain communication with China on the Palestine-Israel situation, and work for an early solution to end the hostilities. Colombia supports the development of the CELAC-China Forum and is willing and ready to take its rotating presidency of CELAC in 2025 as an opportunity to actively promote the continuous development of CELAC-China relations.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents on industrial investment, trade, digital economy, green development, agriculture, science and technology, education, culture, and inspection and quarantine, among others.
The following article was originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
On the afternoon of October 25, 2023, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President of Colombia Gustavo Petro who is on a state visit to China. The two heads of state announced the elevation of the China-Colombia relationship to a strategic partnership.
Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia 43 years ago, bilateral relations have stood the test of international changes and maintained sound momentum of development. The two sides have shown mutual understanding and support on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, made solid progress in cooperation across the board, and increasingly deepened friendship between the two peoples. The establishment of the strategic partnership between China and Colombia is the result of the longtime efforts of all sectors of the two countries, and also a natural manifestation of mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides. It should be cherished by both sides and continuously enriched and developed. China is ready to work with Colombia to advance the China-Colombia strategic partnership to bring greater benefits to the two peoples and inject positive energy into world peace and development.
Xi Jinping expounded on the essence of Chinese modernization in an in-depth manner. Xi Jinping stressed that China supports Colombia’s independent exploration of a development path suited to its national conditions, supports the peace process in the country, and hopes that Colombia can realize comprehensive, enduring and sustainable peace at an early date. China believes that its high-quality development and modernization drive will bring new development opportunities to Colombia and other countries in the world. China-Colombia relations are based on equality, mutual benefit and win-win results. Colombia is welcome to join the big family of the Belt and Road cooperation at an early date to achieve common development and prosperity. The two sides need to make good use of the mixed economic and trade committee mechanism, optimize the bilateral trade structure, and strengthen cooperation in fields such as information, communications and digital economy. China encourages the entry of more Colombia’s specialties and high-quality products into Chinese market, and welcomes Colombia to join the Global Clean Energy Cooperation Partnership proposed by China and share the green development opportunities. The two sides need to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges in such areas as Chinese language teaching, mutual visits of art groups, and tourism, and strengthen bilateral law enforcement cooperation in areas like drug control and combating transnational crimes. Xi Jinping expressed the hope that the Colombian side can better ensure the safety of Chinese nationals, enterprises and institutions in Colombia. Xi noted that as developing countries, China and Colombia need to strengthen communication and coordination in international affairs to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice.
Xi Jinping congratulated Colombia on taking over the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in 2025. He pointed out that China attaches great importance to developing relations with CELAC, and is ready to continue to support the regional integration process in Latin America and the Caribbean, and work with CELAC to take the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC Forum next year as an opportunity to promote the steady and long-term development of China-CELAC relations in the new era.
Gustavo Petro said he is glad to visit China again after many years. Today’s China and the world have undergone great changes, and the theory and practice of China’s revolution and development are deeply enlightening. Colombia attaches great importance to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) put forth by President Xi Jinping. With the establishment of the Colombia-China strategic partnership, Colombia is ready to synergize its geographical advantage and development strategies with the BRI, strengthen cooperation with China in infrastructure, clean energy and other fields, welcome Chinese companies’ investment in Colombia, and promote more balanced development of bilateral trade relations. This will help Colombia advance its domestic peace process and realize peace, stability and employment growth that its people have longed for, and enhance regional and global connectivity. The Colombian side is ready to maintain communication with China on the Palestine-Israel situation, and work for an early solution to end the hostilities. Colombia welcomes the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping, and stands ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with China within multilateral mechanisms. Colombia supports the development of the CELAC-China Forum, and is willing and ready to take its rotating presidency of CELAC in 2025 as an opportunity to actively promote the continuous development of CELAC-China relations.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents on industrial investment, trade, digital economy, green development, agriculture, science and technology, education, culture, and inspection and quarantine, among others.
