Premier Li and President Santos are to attend a seminar on people-to-people exchanges between their nations. (Photo : The Economic Times)
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, following his Brazilian trip, has landed to Colombia to continue his four-country South American tour.
Premier Li arrived in Bogota on Thursday, May 21, where he is scheduled to meet Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.
"Cooperation between China and Colombia is facing a new opportunity," stated Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao.
The Colombian leg of Premier Li's Latin American tour is expected to yield results such as increased bilateral cooperation, especially in the trade, infrastructure and investment sectors.
It's been three decades since a Chinese Premier visited Colombia, but that doesn't mean that Beijing and Bogota haven't kept in touch. In fact, the past year has seen a frequent exchange of high-level visits and development of bilateral relations between the two nations. The recent years have also seen China become Colombia's second-largest trade partner.
According to Minister Wang, Premier Li and President Santos will sign several business contracts and government accords on investment, manufacturing, infrastructure, trade, culture and education.
China has also pledged an investment of $250 billion to Latin American countries by 2025 in accordance with the first ministerial meeting between China and the Latin American and Caribbean states that took place earlier this year.
Premier Li is scheduled to attend several public engagements with President Santos, including a joint press conference and a seminar on people-to-people exchanges between China and South America.
It's a special year for the Chinese and Colombian governments, as 2015 marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two states.
