(Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
China and Colombia must take the opportunity offered by the official membership of Colombia on the “belt and road” initiative to improve their bilateral cooperation, Chinese president, Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.
Mr. XI made these remarks during his meeting with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, who is currently in Beijing to participate in the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-Celac Forum (community of the Latin American and the Caribbean).
At the end of their meeting, the two heads of state attended the signing of a cooperation plan between the governments of the two countries relating to the joint construction of the economic belt of the Silk Road and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road.
Stressing the importance of Colombia in Latin America, Xi said that China has always considered its relations with this country from a strategic and long -term angle.
“This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia. At this new historical starting point, China is ready to deploy joint efforts with Colombia to advance our strategic partnership and bring more profits to the two peoples,” said Xi.
He called on both parties to consolidate mutual political confidence, strengthen strategic communication and firmly maintain the Bilateral Relations Department.
China is willing to import more quality products from Colombia, and to encourage Chinese companies to invest in this country and to participate in the construction of its infrastructure, added Mr. XI.
He noted that the two parties had to further expand their cooperation in emerging fields such as wind energy, new energy vehicles, digital economy and artificial intelligence, and achieve the green and low-carbon transition together.
Xi exhorted the two parties to ensure the success of the celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations, to strengthen cooperation in the fields of education, culture, tourism and in other fields, to intensify exchanges between peoples and to consolidate the foundations of public opinion for friendly ties between the two countries.
Noting that cooperation between China and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (ALC) constituted an important element of South-South cooperation, Mr. XI stressed that it was in accordance with the general trend in global development and history, and that it corresponded to the common interests of China and the ALC countries.
The success of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-Celac Forum has sent a positive signal to the world for the search for shared development and revitalization, said Xi, welcoming Colombia’s contribution to Reunion as a rotating president of the Ceuc.
China is ready to work with Colombia and other ALC countries to continue to promote the construction of a shared future community, Mr. XI said.
Petro said Colombia hoped to promote his relations with China more and that the two parties had to deepen mutual political confidence and strengthen mutual support.
He called on the two parties to work in the “Belt and Road” initiative, to extend cooperation in the fields such as trade, infrastructure, new energies and artificial intelligence, and to improve the life of the population.
Noting that the international situation was complex and unstable, the Colombian president said that the practices adopted by certain countries aimed at obtaining unilateral gains were not beneficial for the world, and that all countries were to unite to respond to them.
Colombia is ready to work in close collaboration with China to safeguard international equity and justice and protect the common interests of developing countries, he stressed.
