China and Colombia Celebrating 44 Years of Diplomatic Relations---“The Next Decades are Brimming with Potential”

                           ---Interview with H.E. Mr. Sergio Fausto Cabrera Cardenas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Colombia to the People’s Republic of China

AMBASSADOR: I first came to China in August 1963... Any country or city undergoes many changes over 60 years, and China certainly has, but the poverty and difficulties of that time make these changes very evident. Today, for example, a city like Beijing competes, even in many aspects surpasses, any of the major European cities, but back then, the streets were only for bicycles and the occasional car. In restaurants and stores, besides paying with money, it was necessary to hand over rationing coupons for cotton, flour, oil, among other things. The people today enjoy comfort and dress elegantly, but back then, the dress code was only limited to blue or green, and everyone wore the same styles of clothing... In short, those were very different days, although I must say that even amid so many difficulties, there was a warm and friendly atmosphere.

AMBASSADOR: Returning to China as an ambassador has not only been a privilege but also a very exciting experience. Reuniting with a country that I have always held close in my heart, with friends I never forgot, with the landscapes, monuments, food, and people in general is, I repeat, very exciting. It's important to say that while the changes in architecture and urbanism are the most evident, the deepest changes I observe are in the people. I perceive that life is not only more comfortable but also that people's horizons have expanded, their dreams are more complex, and there is a sense of well-being everywhere.

AMBASSADOR: I have been fortunate and have traveled a lot. One of the changes I've observed is the great importance given to the provinces and how many official activities have decentralized. Before, everything was in Beijing; now many meetings require travel, and local governments are keen to promote their regions with great enthusiasm. Among other cities, I've been to Shanghai, Chongqing, Changsha, Xian, Haikou, Xining, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Hohhot, and many more. All are very interesting and welcoming, but without a doubt, the most impactful to know is Lhasa, a city that has had surprising development and evolution.

AMBASSADOR: Chinese and Colombians have many things in common because both are countries of regions. Colombia, like China, is composed of very varied and different regions: the Caribbean coast on the Atlantic Ocean is very different from the Pacific coast, and both are very different from the entire Andes Mountain range area. We also have large plains similar to the ones in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. And we have something China doesn't: large expanses of the Amazon rainforest, very important to front the challenges of global warming. Of course, we also have differences in customs and beliefs, but I prefer to think more about what unites us than what sets us apart. In this regard we work hard to promote people to people exchanges at all levels and have been pushing for an ambitious twinning cities and regions program with local governments in both countries.

AMBASSADOR: The main objective of the State Visit was to strengthen the bilateral relationship between China and Colombia, elevating it to the level of a 'Strategic Partnership.' As a result of the exchanges, a Joint Declaration with 31 points was adopted, expressing the intention to create a working group to strengthen communication and collaboration within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, it was agreed to expand bilateral trade, accelerate the implementation of cooperation and mutual approaches in the circular economy, work together to enhance the agricultural sector, renew the educational plan, reinforce cultural exchanges, strengthen cooperation in areas of regional transport infrastructure and sustainable urban mobility systems, promote the establishment of the Global Renewable Energy Partnership, and explore a portfolio of projects aimed at advancing climate adaptation and resilience, decarbonization, and biodiversity conservation.

Additionally, President Gustavo Petro held meetings with executives of infrastructure construction companies, where important topics for the future development of infrastructure and the country's connectivity were discussed. Simultaneously, parallel agendas were developed with senior officials of the Chinese government by the General Director of the Directorate of Social Prosperity, Laura Sarabia; the Minister of Transportation, William Camargo; and the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mauricio Lizcano.

Likewise, the IX Joint Committee on Economy and Trade was held, which had not met since 2012. In this meeting, discussions were held regarding the fluidity of trade, improving mechanisms and dialogue for the negotiation and resolution of disputes and commercial defense, increasing economic cooperation through working groups to formulate and execute sustainable projects, deepening cooperation in bilateral investment, mutual recognition of regulations, and strengthening the framework of the Agreement for the Reciprocal Protection and Promotion of Investments, as well as the convenience of holding the subsequent Joint Committees at least once every two years.

Both Presidents, Gustavo Petro and Xi Jinping, led the signing ceremony of instruments, where 12 documents were signed, including Memorandums of Understanding, Executive Plans, and agreements for the establishment of working groups in economic, investment, commercial, technological, environmental, scientific, industrial, agricultural, educational, and cultural matters. Notable among them is the Memorandum of Understanding for the Promotion of Cooperation and Investment for Green Development, being the first in history signed between both countries in this area, as well as the 2024-2028 Work Plan to Enhance Agricultural Cooperation, and the signing of the protocol of admissibility for Colombian beef, which grants real access to the Chinese market, as well as the Educational Work Plan up to 2027, which includes all modalities of academic exchanges, language learning, scholarships, among others.

Today China is Colombia´s main investor from Asia and its second largest trading partner. This year Colombia and China will be Celebrating 44 years of Diplomatic Relations, and the next decades are brimming with potential. Sino-Colombian bilateral relations are going through its best moment in history and both countries meet the conditions to advance a complimentary and comprehensive partnership.

AMBASSADOR: Both countries have maintained a fluid exchange in this sector. China has knowledge and technical expertise that can help reduce the digital divide in Colombia, seeking the social well-being of Colombians.

Colombia is undergoing its digital transformation where a lot of cooperation opportunities are rising with China and the world on new technologies, IoT, AI, cybersecurity, telecommunications, green manufacturing, Cloud Computing, and data intelligence. In this regard, Colombia hosts the Regional 4th Industrial Revolution Center affiliated to the World Economic Forum, which entails the country to pursue the transition in Latin America to an economy based on data to improve competitiveness, enhance SME´s performance, position the country as a reference nation in Agriculture 4.0 and lead on the development and implementation of ethical and regulatory frameworks for the responsible use of technologies. We understand that technology enhances social and economic value, drives productivity and sustainable growth, and on the other hand is necessary for effective climate action and the protection of our biodiversity, which is another sector where China and Colombia have matching views.  

We need to decrease barriers that hinder inclusiveness, innovation, and green development, and at the same time stimulate poverty reduction, entrepreneurship, and connectivity. This can only happen when we built stronger teams and hone human capital that ultimately maximizes the output of our scientific, industrial, and academic communities. We intend to pursue these objectives working collectively with China.

Additionally, science and technology play a relevant role in agriculture 4.0. These exchanges cannot be overlooked, as there is important work to be done on agriculture efficiency and productivity. There is a need in Colombia to increase investment and good practices in agribusiness. We can enrich our own experience, learning from China and increasing cooperation. Improving Colombia´s agricultural sector today may be the most important step to significantly reducing poverty tomorrow. 

Lastly, both countries signed the inclusion of Colombia to China´s Young Scientific Exchange Program, where young scientists from both countries will be able to do join forces for periods of 6 to 12 months to advance their research and stimulate people to people exchanges in seminars, conferences, and other events. 

AMBASSADOR: In the past, I have made contacts with Chinese filmmakers who are very interested in filming in Colombia and having an active collaboration in that field. I do not rule out the possibility that in the near future there may be co-productions between China and Colombia, but for now, my work as a filmmaker is limited to what I can do at my desk on some weekends. I am writing a script that I hope will become a movie when my tour of duty ends. On the other hand, I can tell you that one of my highest priorities will be to strengthen our relationship in the cultural field. Some of our artists, like the painter Fernando Botero or the writer Gabriel Garcia Márquez, are very appreciated and broadly known in China, but there is much to be done to make contemporary Colombian cultural figures more visible. Since I've been here, we've had activities in literature, visual arts, music, cinema, and theater, and we will continue with this in the coming year. Our Foreign Ministry has a program to promote Colombian culture, which is our main tool in the cultural aspect of binational collaboration, and thanks to it, I am sure that in the coming years our culture, which has proven to be very appreciated by the Chinese people, will be much more known.