UPDATE - China, Colombia upgrade bilateral relations to strategic partnership

ADDS DETAILS, SIGNING OF AGREEMENTS, CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China and Colombia on Wednesday upgraded bilateral ties to a "strategic partnership."

The announcement came after bilateral talks held between President Xi Jinping and his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro.

Petro is on a three-day state visit to China at the invitation of Xi, which began on Tuesday.

The two sides held talks after an official ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in the capital Beijing.

Xi said the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Colombia is the result of "long-term efforts by both countries and reflects mutual trust and cooperation which needs to be cherished and continuously enriched," local English daily Global Times reported.

Both sides need to strengthen communication and cooperation in international affairs, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice, he added.

Petro, for his part, said his country is willing to maintain communication with China on issues such as "the Israel-Palestine conflict and promote the early finding of a solution to cease-fire and cooling down the situation."

The Chinese president welcomed Colombia to join the co-building of Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) "for common development and prosperity."

After establishing a strategic partnership, the Colombian side is willing to align its geographical advantages and development strategies with the BRI, according to Petro.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of industrial investment and trade, digital economy, green development, agriculture, science and technology, education and culture, inspection and quarantine.​​​​​​​

Earlier, Petro and his delegation also held talks with China's National People's Congress chairman Zhao Leji.

China is the second-largest trade partner of the South American nation and this year the two nations are celebrating 43 years of diplomatic relations.

It was in 1980 that Colombia switched relations from Taiwan to Beijing.