Possible Colombian accession to the Belt and Road Initiative sparks tensions in foreign policy
Photo: Flickr.
According to a report from the media outlet Infobae, the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a meeting would be held with the Advisory Commission on Foreign Relations through an extraordinary session, scheduled for May 8th.
In the report published by the Ministry, it was mentioned that Laura Sarabia, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, would meet with the members of this commission to discuss the Belt and Road Initiative of China. It was expected that in this meeting, the commission members would share their opinions and ask questions about the potential impact of Colombia joining this initiative.
However, after the Ministry published the statement, Colombian President Gustavo Petro commented that he disagreed with the meeting between the Minister and the Advisory Commission on Foreign Relations. The statement made by the President was given at an event in the city of Bogotá, where he mentioned that “Colombia defends freedom, republican principles, but that does not mean the country must obey other nations for no reason.”
Specifically, regarding the meeting called by the Ministry, President Petro reminded that, as the country’s head of state, he also has the authority to make decisions about the nation’s foreign relations. He went on to say that he is the chief foreign affairs representative of Colombia, and that he will “speak face to face with Chinese President Xi Jinping,” where they will discuss commercial issues.
Additionally, he expressed that both he and his cabinet are working on reaching a memorandum of understanding for the Belt and Road Initiative with the People’s Republic of China, something that had not been achieved during the term of Álvaro Leyva as Foreign Minister under the administration of Gustavo Petro, who, now out of government, has mentioned knowing about the President’s alleged drug addiction problem.
Also, during this same event in the capital of the coffee-producing country, the President emphasized the great importance of developing commercial relations between Colombia and the People’s Republic of China, mentioning that cooperation between the two nations will contribute to the economic acceleration of both countries, due to China’s trade surplus and Colombia’s annual trade deficit of $14 billion.
Likewise, the Colombian President stated that the trade balance between the two nations must aim for mutual balance, which can be achieved through the importation of Colombian products by China, and with investments from the Asian country in the South American one.
Regarding Colombia’s commercial relations with both the United States and the People’s Republic of China, the Colombian President mentioned that his country is not in any commercial race with either of these nations and stated that the best proposals coming from any country will be considered for bids in Colombia. He emphasized that he will not grant bids based on a country’s geopolitical position, but will take into account the proposals they make and assess which ones are the best.
Main Source:
Related News:
Colombian Foreign Minister visits China to discuss Belt and Road Initiative
Colombia and China Launch Direct Maritime Route Between Shanghai and Buenaventura
You may be interested in:
Los lazos entre Colombia y China cumplen 45 años: ¿cómo va el comercio? – El Espectador