The upcoming meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Chinese President Xi Jinping has ignited controversy and raised concerns over the fate of the Bogotá metro project. With strong ties between the two countries and Petro’s interest in involving Chinese companies in the project, many are questioning the motives behind the meeting.
The Bogotá metro project, aimed at transforming the city’s transportation system, has been a long-standing priority for Colombia’s government. However, the underground portion of the project has faced numerous delays and challenges, leading to Petro’s pursuit of Chinese involvement. While Petro’s intentions may be to expedite the project and secure the necessary funding, the Chinese regime has firmly stated that the project is a matter between companies and a local administration, and it is not a priority for President Jinping.
This has sparked concerns, particularly in the United States, where a recent visit from a delegation of congressmen warned of the consequences of partnering with China. They cautioned Petro, stating that “grabbing money from Beijing ends up paying off” and suggested that cooperation with Washington should be a priority to avoid becoming too reliant on China. However, Petro remains determined to pursue a partnership with China to transform the transportation system and attract more investments.
As Petro and Xi Jinping prepare to meet on October 25th, all eyes will be on the outcome and the implications it will have for the Bogotá metro project. The controversial decision to contract a study for the modification of the project, costing over 8,000 million, has also raised red flags in the Attorney General’s Office. The type of contracting and potential violation of territorial autonomy has drawn attention to the potential for irregularities in the project.
With information from El País y El Tiempo
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