Colombia President Gustavo Petro arrives for China-CELAC Forum

Colombian President Gustavo Petro arrived in Beijing ahead of the forum between China and the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. 

Beijing has stepped up economic and political cooperation with Latin American nations in recent years and has urged a united front against US President Donald Trump's recent maelstrom of tariffs. Petro reiterated that he will sign a "letter of intent" to join the IFR, also known as the New Silk Roads, when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming days.