Colombia Joins Belt and Road Initiative as China Courts Latin America

Two-thirds of countries in region have signed up to BRI with top trading partner

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BEIJING — Colombia formally agreed on May 14 to join China's vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, as Beijing draws Latin America closer in a bid to counter the US.

Latin America has emerged as a key battleground in US President Donald Trump's confrontations with China, and the region is coming under pressure from Washington to choose a side.

China has surpassed the US as the biggest trading partner of Brazil, Peru, Chile and other Latin American nations, and two-thirds of countries there have signed up to Chinese leader Xi Jinping's Belt and Road infrastructure drive.

On the sidelines of a major gathering of regional leaders in Beijing on May 14, Colombia became the latest country to join the massive global initiative.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry hailed the agreement as a "historic step that opens up new opportunities for investment, technological cooperation and sustainable development for both countries".

After a meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Mr. Xi urged the countries to take the opportunity of Colombia joining the "Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) family" to enhance their cooperation, Beijing's state media said.