Top political advisor meets Colombian president

China

Top political advisor meets Colombian president

2025-05-14 20:19 Last Updated At：22:37

China's top political advisor Wang Huning met with visiting Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Beijing on Wednesday.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), noted that President Xi Jinping had held a fruitful meeting with Petro earlier that day, and the two leaders witnessed the signing of several important cooperation documents, including Colombia's formal accession to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Colombia, Wang said that China is ready to work with Colombia to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and to deepen the strategic partnership in a way that delivers benefits to people of both countries.

He expressed the CPPCC's willingness to contribute to that effort.

Petro said the world today is marked by growing instability, and all countries should join hands to safeguard peace and promote shared development for humanity.

He said Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and China share a natural affinity and should therefore stand together in solidarity.

Colombia is ready to enhance cooperation with China across various sectors and to push forward Colombia-China and broader LAC-China relations, Petro said.

On Tuesday morning, Petro delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum. 　 Petro arrived in Beijing on Monday.

Spokesman on pandas gifted to Taiwan

Giant pandas at the Taipei Zoo are gifts from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan compatriots and certain Japanese politicians' remarks about Japanese zoos' panda exchange negotiations with the Taipei Zoo are absurd, said a spokesman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

In response to a question regarding such remarks at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Peng Qing'en, the spokesman, said such claims by certain Japanese politicians are nothing but a pipe dream.

The claims from Japan came out as the panda lease agreement between China and Japan is about to expire, and the last two giant pandas in Japan will return to China in early 2026.

"Certain Japanese politicians' absurd remarks are nothing but a pipe dream. The giant pandas gifted to the Taiwan region are gifts from mainland compatriots to their Taiwan folks. They represent an important achievement in the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and are deeply cherished by Taiwan compatriots, especially youngsters, bringing them joy and fond memories. As the national treasure, giant pandas deserve to be cherished by compatriots on both sides of the Strait. If Taiwan separatist forces dare to use giant pandas as a tribute to curry favor with Japan, they are bound to face the wrath of compatriots on both sides of the Strait," Peng said.