Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated Abelardo de la Espriella on his recent election as president of Colombia, expressing a commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across various sectors. Xi’s message, sent on Monday, emphasized the strategic partnership between China and Colombia, highlighting the progress made since the establishment of diplomatic ties 46 years ago.
In the congratulatory note, Xi underscored that despite evolving global conditions, relations between the two countries have maintained a steady and positive trajectory. He pointed to growing political trust, strong people-to-people connections, and advances in cooperation under China’s Belt and Road Initiative as key pillars of their relationship. Xi stated his intention to collaborate closely with De la Espriella to elevate the strategic partnership to new heights, aiming to generate greater benefits for both nations.
Also on Monday, Vice-President Han Zheng extended congratulations to Jose Manuel Restrepo Abondano, Colombia’s vice president-elect.
De la Espriella, 47, was declared president-elect by Colombia’s National Electoral Council on June 24, following a runoff vote on June 21. The right-wing candidate is set to assume office on August 7 for a four-year term covering 2026 to 2030. Known as a nontraditional political figure, De la Espriella has pledged to reform national governance through a firm approach to security and significant reductions in public spending.
China has become a key economic partner for Colombia. According to data from China Customs, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $23.02 billion in 2025—a 9.5 percent increase from the previous year. Colombia ranks as China’s sixth-largest trading partner in Latin America, while China is Colombia’s second-largest overall trading partner.
The two countries have also deepened collaboration through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative. In May of the previous year, China and Colombia signed a cooperation agreement to jointly advance projects under the Belt and Road framework, reflecting a shared interest in infrastructure development and economic integration.
With the incoming Colombian administration, both Beijing and Bogotá appear poised to further expand their strategic and economic ties amid growing global interdependence.