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TMI BlogColombia seeks to join China-based development bank as Latin America drifts away from WashingtonX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Colombia seeks to join China-based development bank as Latin America drifts away from Washington X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n the region to seek closer ties with Washington's geopolitical rival. Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrapped up a visit to China this week with a stop in Shanghai, where he met with former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, the head of the New Development Bank. The multilateral lender was set up a decade ago as a project of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — the BRICS nations ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... of major developing markets — as a counter to US-dominated institutions like the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. To date, the New Development Bank has approved loans for 122 infrastructure projects totalling more than USD 40 billion in areas such as transport, sanitation and clean energy, according to Rousseff. Petro, speaking to reporters in China on Saturday, said that Colom ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... bia is committed to purchasing USD 512 million worth of shares in the bank. He said that he was especially excited by the possibility of securing the New Development Bank's support for a 120-kilometre canal, or railway, connecting Colombia's Atlantic and Pacific Ocean coastlines that he said would position the country at the “heart” of trade between South America and Asia. Colombia is the second ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Latin American country to try and join the bank after tiny Uruguay sought membership in 2021. But Colombia's traditional role as a staunch US ally and caretaker in the war on drugs is likely to raise eyebrows in Washington. The US State Department this week said that it would “vigorously oppose” financing of projects linked to China's Belt and Road Initiative in Latin America. Petro signed up ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... to the initiative during a summit with fellow leftist leaders from Brazil and China. Petro, a former leftist guerrilla, said he wouldn't be dissuaded by US pressure and reaffirmed that Colombia seeks to remain neutral in a new era of geopolitical wrangling. “We made this decision freely,” Petro told reporters from Shanghai. “With the United States, we can speak face to face, with China too.” ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... (AP) NPK NPK X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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