• Colombia has officially joined China's Belt and Road Initiative.
• The agreement aims to enhance infrastructure and trade between the two nations.
• China pledged $9.2 billion in credit towards development projects in Colombia.

Colombia will officially join China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as confirmed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro during his recent visit to Beijing. This significant step represents a deepening of Colombia's ties with China, aimed at fostering infrastructure development and new employment opportunities, particularly in artificial intelligence sectors, according to SCMP.

The cooperation pact was signed following a meeting between Petro and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who stated that China is prepared to import more high-quality products from Colombia and support its firms in investment and business endeavors. "We are ready to engage in infrastructure construction," he noted, reflecting China's growing influence in Latin America, according to The Jakarta Post and India Times.

During the signing ceremony, Xi pledged a substantial $9.2 billion in credit for development, emphasizing the historic nature of this agreement. Petro emphasized on social media that this cooperation represents a pivotal change in Colombia's foreign relations, allowing it to interact globally with greater equality and freedom, according to TRT Global and India Times.

This agreement aligns Colombia with over 20 Latin American countries participating in the BRI, although it follows recent exits by countries like Panama amid U.S. pressure. The pact marks a critical moment for Colombia, which seeks to enhance its economic prospects through deeper involvement in Chinese-led initiatives, according to multiple sources including The Jakarta Post and TRT Global.