China and Colombia have underlined the dynamic nature of their friendship and cooperation at a time when the progressive South American government is facing crude interference and brutal threats from the Trump administration in the United States.
On February 7, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Colombian President Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego exchanged messages greeting the 45th anniversary of the establishment of their bilateral diplomatic relations.
Xi said that since then, both sides have been pushing for the steady development of bilateral ties based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. He further noted that in October 2023, Petro paid a successful state visit to China, during which the two heads of state had a fruitful meeting and jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries, guiding China-Colombia relations into a new era.
Colombia is an important country in Latin America and will assume the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) this year, he added, and said that he attaches great importance to developing China-Colombia relations, and is willing to work with Petro to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries in efforts to jointly build a China-Latin America and the Caribbean community with a shared future.
President Petro noted that he paid a state visit to China after taking office, and bilateral ties have been steadily strengthened with the continuous increase of trade and investment. Colombia is willing to work with China to jointly advance the global agenda of mutual concern, including world peace, energy transition and tackling climate change.
Earlier, on January 28, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post reported that China’s Ambassador to Colombia, Zhu Jingyang told the El Tiempo newspaper that relations between China and Colombia were “at the best moment” since they established diplomatic ties. He added that Colombia and China “are global cultural powers” and that the differences between the two countries “far from creating obstacles, bring us closer and enrich us.”
Coincidentally the Ambassador’s comments were published at the same time as a public row broke out between President Petro and Trump. Colombia denied permission for two US military aircraft, each carrying some 80 Colombian migrant workers, victims of Trump’s racist pogroms that currently threaten millions of workers and their families in the US. With the type of performative cruelty that is among his trademarks, Trump has taken to deporting workers bound and shackled aboard military aircraft.
Petro said he would accept deported migrants again once the US established protocols for their dignified treatment. Trump said on his Truth Social account that by refusing to accept the flights, the “socialist president of Colombia” had put US “national security and public safety” at risk. He announced 25 per cent tariffs on all Colombian imports, including coffee; Colombia is among the leading exporters of the bean to the US.
After a furious riposte from Petro on the social media platform X, the United States acceded to Colombia’s demand for the humane treatment of deportees.
The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.
BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday exchanged congratulations with Colombian President Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego over the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
Since China and Colombia established diplomatic relations 45 years ago, both sides have been pushing for the steady development of bilateral ties based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, said Xi.
Xi noted that in October 2023, Petro paid a successful state visit to China, during which the two heads of state had a fruitful meeting, and jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries, guiding China-Colombia relations into a new era.
Colombia is an important country in Latin America and will assume the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States this year, said Xi.
Xi also said he attaches great importance to developing China-Colombia relations, and is willing to work with Petro to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries in efforts to jointly build a China-Latin America and the Caribbean community with a shared future.
In his message, Petro said the development of bilateral relations has witnessed fruitful results since the two sides established diplomatic ties, delivering benefits to the two peoples.
Frequent high-level visits have strongly boosted bilateral cooperation in various fields, and fostered a deeper bond between the two peoples, he said.
The Colombian president also noted that he paid a state visit to China after taking office, and bilateral ties have been steadily strengthened with the continuous increase of trade and investment.
Colombia is willing to work with China to jointly advance the global agenda of mutual concern, including world peace, energy transition and tackling climate change, he added.
