Chinese government representative Li Changchun met with President Juan Manuel Santos during an official visit to Colombia, Monday.
The two officials discussed bilateral trade and relations, as well as Santos’ May 8 visit to China.
Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will meet with other Colombian officials including Colombia’s Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin.
Holguin visited China last February seeking to make the country a “strategic partner” of Colombia.
Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaoyua told Chinese state news agency Xinhua Li, “will sign a series of accords in the areas of economy and trade and culture.”
In an official statement upon his arrival in Colombia, Li said,”Colombia is an important country in South America, which is rich in natural resources and has a diligent people. There have been frequent high-level visits between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations 32 years ago. Bilateral trade is increasing, while cultural exchange is flourishing.”
According to Xinhua, China is Colombia’s second largest trading partner, with trade in 2011 valued at $8.23 billion.
Speaking of his upcoming trip to China, Santos said in a presidential press release, “China has become the fastest growing most important market in the world and [Colombia] needs to be present there.”