Colombian President Gustavo Petro (right) being photographed by a person during his visit to the Great Wall of China near Beijing on Monday, May 12, 2025. Photo: Colombia's Presidential Office.
During his first official visit to China as president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro confirmed that he will authorize Colombia’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, sometimes referred to as the New Silk Road.
“We are going to sign the Silk Road [agreement],” said Colombian President Gustavo Petro yesterday from Beijing. “Both Latin America and Colombia are free, sovereign, and independent, and the relations we establish with any people in the world—north, east, west, or south—must be based on conditions of freedom and equality.”
The Colombian head of state, who is visiting Beijing to participate in the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum, stated that his vision for Colombia includes “the development of cutting-edge technological infrastructure that connects Colombia, via submarine fiber optics, with Asia and Europe.”
Within the framework of this initiative, Petro proposed that historically excluded territories of the South American nation, such as San Andrés, Buenaventura, and Zipaquirá, could become hubs for technological production and global digital services, facilitating young people’s access to jobs related to artificial intelligence.
The Colombian president also emphasized the need for integration between Colombia and neighboring countries, such as Venezuela, Panama, and Ecuador, through technological infrastructure such as fiber optics and through a shared commitment to peace and clean production.
Colombia’s adherence to this global strategy, promoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping since 2013, represents a significant shift in its foreign policy at a key moment in the reconfiguration of the global economic order. Colombia seeks to strengthen economic and infrastructure connections between Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
The Belt and Road Initiative has already involved more than 150 countries and generated investments exceeding US $1 trillion, focused on infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports, airports, pipelines, power grids, and telecommunications. This strategic initiative has been heavily attacked by the United States regime in recent years. The US has threatened countries around the word that have officially support the Chinese initiative.
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President Petro will remain in China until Saturday, May 17, and during his stay, he will hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. He will also participate in the CELAC-China Forum. CELAC is the most important regional bloc in Latin America and the Caribbean, and its pro tempore presidency is currently held by Colombia.
“At the last CELAC session, I was elected president, and I am developing its agenda, which begins with a CELAC-China summit; then CELAC-Europe will follow,” commented President Petro. “We have asked the US government to also host the CELAC-US summit. Its objective, due to its geographical position, is to be at the heart of the social, political, and economic world.”
This Monday, the president held meetings with finance ministers and ambassadors from both countries in Beijing, as well as a working group with the Colombian diplomatic delegation in China.
(Telesur) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL
