Colombia has formally joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in what its government has called a "historic step" that redefines Bogota's place on the international stage. The agreement was signed during the China-CELAC Forum 2025 in Beijing, where regional leaders convened to strengthen economic and political cooperation with China.
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry announced the deal in a post on X, highlighting that it would create "new opportunities for investment, technological cooperation, and sustainable development for both countries."
President Gustavo Petro, who attended the signing ceremony, posted a video of the event, calling the move a redefinition of Colombia’s global outlook. "The history of our foreign relations is changing," he wrote. "From now on, Colombia will interact with the entire world on a footing of equality and freedom."
The BRI agreement aligns with Petro’s broader efforts to diversify Colombia’s international alliances and to seek economic partnerships beyond traditional Western frameworks, particularly amid waning US influence in the region.
On his part, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Petro and welcomed Colombia as a new member of what he described as the "high-quality Belt and Road Initiative family." Xi emphasized the importance of "quality upgrading of cooperation" and encouraged joint efforts in infrastructure, energy, technology, and sustainable development.
Colombia joins more than two-thirds of Latin American countries now participating in the BRI. In recent years, China has emerged as the top trading partner for several regional economies, including Brazil, Peru, and Chile, surpassing the United States.
Beijing has also backed strategic infrastructure projects, such as the Chinese-financed deepwater port inaugurated last year in Chancay, Peru, a critical hub for Pacific trade.
During the China-CELAC Forum, Xi pledged $9.2 billion in credit lines for Latin American development initiatives. The funding aims to support infrastructure, renewable energy, education, counterterrorism efforts, and the fight against transnational organized crime.
The commitment reflects China’s broader ambition to position itself as a leader in the Global South and to promote multilateralism as an alternative to US-led geopolitical influence.
Colombia's entry into the BRI underscores shifting geopolitical alignments in Latin America, where China is increasingly viewed as a reliable partner for long-term development and strategic investment.
As Bogota deepens its ties with Beijing, the move also reflects broader trends in the Global South toward multipolar engagement and reduced dependence on traditional Western powers.
The Belt and Road Initiative, launched by Xi Jinping in 2013, continues to serve as a cornerstone of China’s foreign policy, leveraging infrastructure and development projects to forge deeper political and economic ties across continents.