Chinese President Xi Jinping met separately with Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Chilean President Gabriel Boric on the morning of May 14. Both leaders were in China to attend the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC [Community of Latin American and Caribbean States] Forum.
During his visit President Petro announced that Colombia would formally join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In their meeting, President Xi said that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia. Standing at a new historical starting point, China is ready to work with Colombia to promote greater development of the strategic partnership between the two countries and bring more benefits to the people of both countries. The two sides should take Colombia officially joining the big family of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as an opportunity to promote the quality improvement and upgrade of cooperation between the two countries. China is ready to import more high-quality products from Colombia, support Chinese enterprises in investing and doing business in Colombia, and participate in infrastructure development. The two sides can further expand cooperation in emerging fields such as wind energy, new energy vehicles, the digital economy and artificial intelligence, and jointly achieve green and low-carbon transformation.
The Chinese leader stressed that China-LAC [Latin America and the Caribbean] cooperation is an important part of South-South cooperation. It conforms to the general trend of world development and historical trends and is in line with the common interests of China and LAC countries. The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum sent a positive signal to the world of seeking common development and revitalisation. As the rotating president CELAC, Colombia has made significant contributions to the successful holding of the meeting.
Gustavo Petro said, the friendly relations between Colombia and China have a long history. The two sides should deepen political mutual trust, enhance mutual support, advance Belt and Road cooperation, expand cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure, new energy and artificial intelligence, and improve people’s livelihood. Amid the current complex and volatile international landscape, the self-serving practices of certain countries are not beneficial to the world. All countries should unite to respond. Colombia is willing to cooperate closely with China to safeguard international fairness and justice and protect the common interests of developing countries.
Petro also met with Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
Meeting Chilean President Boric, Xi Jinping pointed out that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Chile. Fifty-five years ago, the visionary elder leaders of both countries broke through the shadow of the Cold War and pioneered the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and South American countries. [Xi Jinping refers here to Salvador Allende, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai. Chile established diplomatic relations with China on December 15, 1970, the first country on the South American mainland to do so, just over three months after Allende led his Popular Unity coalition to victory and assumed office.]
China and Chile, he stressed, should continue to enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership, set an example for China-Latin America common development and for South-South cooperation, and jointly advance the cause of peace and progress for humanity. Both sides should implement the Belt and Road cooperation plan, deepen cooperation in such fields as agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, industrial investment, infrastructure, and green minerals, and cultivate new growth areas in astronomy, polar regions, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and the digital economy.
Boric said that all countries should uphold free trade, mutual benefit and win-win results. Trade should not serve the selfish interests of a single country, and waging a trade war leads nowhere. Chile is willing to work with China to firmly safeguard multilateralism and the authority of the United Nations, stand for resolving differences through dialogue, and jointly uphold international fairness and justice.
Boric also met with Vice President Han Zheng and said that Chile is ready to advance Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen practical cooperation with China in economic, cultural, social, and technological fields, jointly address climate change, and uphold multilateralism and world peace.
The following articles were originally published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Xinhua News Agency.
Xi Jinping Meets with President of Colombia Gustavo Petro
May 14 (MFA) — On the morning of May 14, 2025, President Xi Jinping met with President of Colombia Gustavo Petro, who is in China for the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Noting that Colombia is an important country in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Xi Jinping pointed out that China has always viewed the development of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia. Standing at a new historical starting point, China is ready to work with Colombia to promote greater development of the strategic partnership between the two countries and bring more benefits to the people of both countries. The two sides should consolidate political mutual trust, enhance strategic communication and firmly keep to the development direction of bilateral relations. The two sides should take Colombia officially joining the big family of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as an opportunity to promote the quality improvement and upgrade of cooperation between the two countries. China is ready to import more high-quality products from Colombia, support Chinese enterprises in investing and doing business in Colombia, and participate in infrastructure development. The two sides can further expand cooperation in emerging fields such as wind energy, new energy vehicles, the digital economy and artificial intelligence, and jointly achieve green and low-carbon transformation. The two countries should make the celebration activities for the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations a success, strengthen cooperation in education, culture, tourism and other fields, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and consolidate the public foundation for friendship between the two countries.
Xi Jinping stressed that China-LAC cooperation is an important part of South-South cooperation. It conforms to the general trend of world development and historical trends, and is in line with the common interests of China and LAC countries. The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum was successfully held, sending a positive signal to the world of seeking common development and revitalization. As the rotating president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Colombia has made significant contributions to the successful holding of the meeting. China is ready to work with Colombia and other LAC countries to continuously deepen and consolidate the building of the China-LAC community with a shared future and bring more benefits to the people of China and LAC countries.
Gustavo Petro said, the friendly relations between Colombia and China have a long history. Colombia looks forward to further developing its relations with China. The two sides should deepen political mutual trust, enhance mutual support, advance Belt and Road cooperation, expand cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure, new energy and artificial intelligence, and improve people’s livelihood. Amid the current complex and volatile international landscape, the self-serving practices of certain countries are not beneficial to the world. All countries should unite to respond. Colombia is willing to cooperate closely with China to safeguard international fairness and justice and protect the common interests of developing countries.
After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the Cooperation Plan between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Colombia on Jointly Promoting the Construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
Wang Yi was present at the above meeting.
China’s top political advisor meets Colombian president
BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) — Wang Huning, China’s top political advisor, met with Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday in Beijing.
Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that Chinese President Xi Jinping held a fruitful meeting with President Petro and jointly witnessed the signing of important cooperation documents including Colombia’s accession to the Belt and Road Initiative.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia, Wang said, noting that China is willing to work with Colombia to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, promote the deepening and solidification of the China-Colombia strategic partnership, and bring benefits to the two peoples.
The National Committee of the CPPCC is willing to play an active role in this regard, he added.
Petro, who is in Beijing for the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, said that Colombia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields and promote the continuous development of relations between Colombia and China, as well as between CELAC and China.
Xi Jinping Meets with Chilean President Gabriel Boric
May 14 (MFA) — On the morning of May 14, 2025, President Xi Jinping met with Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who is in China for the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping pointed out that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Chile. Fifty-five years ago, the visionary elder leaders of both countries broke through the shadow of the Cold War and pioneered the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and South American countries. Over the past half-century, regardless of the changing international landscape, the ship of China-Chile relations has always cleaved waves and sailed ahead, leading the development trend of China’s relations with Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. China and Chile should continue to enrich their comprehensive strategic partnership for the era, set an example for China-Latin America common development and for South-South cooperation, and jointly advance the cause of peace and progress for humanity.
Xi Jinping stressed that China is ready to work with Chile to consolidate political mutual trust, uphold mutual respect, treat each other as equals, pursue mutual benefit and win-win results, enhance exchanges on governance experience, firmly support each other on issues related to their respective core interests and major concerns, and safeguard their respective sovereignty, security, and development interests. Both sides should implement the Belt and Road cooperation plan, deepen cooperation in such fields as agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, industrial investment, infrastructure, and green minerals, and cultivate new growth areas in astronomy, polar regions, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and the digital economy. China supports more Chinese enterprises in investing and doing business in Chile and welcomes more high-quality Chilean products into the Chinese market. The two sides should enhance mutual learning between civilizations and carry out exchange activities in education, culture, media, and youth, facilitate personnel exchanges, and lay a good foundation of public support for the long-term development of bilateral relations. At present, the international situation is fraught with transformation and turbulence, and the surging countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism deal a serious blow to the international economic and trade order. As staunch defenders of multilateralism and free trade, China and Chile should strengthen coordination in multilateral arenas to safeguard the common interests of the Global South.
Gabriel Boric said that Chile attaches great importance to its relations with China. China has become Chile’s most important trading partner, and bilateral cooperation has benefited the people of both countries. Chile will firmly pursue the one-China principle, and looks forward to further expanding cooperation with China in trade, investment, artificial intelligence and other fields, advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and enhancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to achieve more concrete outcomes in Chile-China relations. All countries should uphold free trade and mutual benefit and win-win results. Trade should not serve the selfish interests of a single country, and waging a trade war leads nowhere. Chile is willing to work with China to firmly safeguard multilateralism and the authority of the United Nations, stand for resolving differences through dialogue, and jointly uphold international fairness and justice.
Wang Yi attended the meeting.
During Gabriel Boric’s visit to China, the two sides signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents in areas such as the economy, publishing, inspection and quarantine, as well as media and think tanks.
Chinese VP meets Chilean president
BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Chilean President Gabriel Boric in Beijing on Wednesday.
Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 20th anniversary of the free trade agreement signed by the two sides, Han said since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than half a century ago, the relations between the two countries have maintained a good momentum of development and have long been at the forefront among Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.
The fruitful meeting between the two heads of state has injected a strong impetus into the development of China-Chile relations, Han noted, adding that China is willing to work with Chile to effectively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continuously strengthen political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, enhance multilateral strategic collaboration, promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Chile, and contribute to the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future.
Boric said Chile is ready to advance Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen practical cooperation with China in economic, cultural, social, and technological fields, jointly address climate change, and uphold multilateralism and world peace.
