Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced plans for the South American nation to join China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during his arrival in Beijing for the fourth China-CELAC Forum ministerial meeting. Petro emphasized the global reach of the BRI, calling it a catalyst for “a new wave of industrial development” in a statement on Monday.
The move positions Colombia as the latest Latin American partner in Beijing’s infrastructure and trade initiative, which has expanded to over 150 countries and regions. Analysts see the decision as a strategic alignment to attract infrastructure investments and strengthen economic ties with Asia’s largest economy.
This development comes amid growing collaboration between China and Latin America, with CELAC members increasingly leveraging BRI partnerships to address regional infrastructure gaps. Petro’s participation in the forum underscores Colombia’s ambition to diversify trade networks while navigating shifts in global supply chains.
