Colombian President Gustavo Petro praised China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a catalyst for equitable global development during his visit to Beijing this week, emphasizing opportunities in sustainable industries and cross-continental trade.
Speaking at the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum, Petro framed the BRI as a platform for "mutual benefit and win-win cooperation" between emerging economies. He highlighted Colombia's ambitions to expand exports of agricultural and mineral commodities while collaborating on renewable energy projects under the initiative.
"The BRI aligns with our vision of transitioning to a green economy," Petro told China Media Group, noting Colombia's wealth of critical minerals needed for clean energy technologies. Analysts suggest the Andean nation could become a key supplier of copper and lithium to Asian markets through BRI infrastructure investments.
The forum marks growing economic diplomacy between China and Latin America, with bilateral trade exceeding $480 billion in 2023. Petro's remarks underscore how developing nations are leveraging BRI frameworks to balance ecological priorities with industrial modernization.
