BEIJING, CHINA – October 11th, 2016 China-Columbia Business Forum was held in the Embassy of Columbia in Beijing jointly hosted by CCPIT/WTC Beijing and Colombian Chinese Investment and Commerce Chamber (CCICC). The aim of the forum is to develop an open and friendly dialogue between businesses of two sides in order to enhance business partnerships and seek new cooperation opportunities. The forum incorporated the opening ceremony and the businesses matchmaking attended by the trade representatives from around 30 companies and public organizations from two countries.

At the opening ceremony, CCPIT Vice Chairperson Ms. Lin Bin, Chairman of LAC Free Trade Zone Mr. Juan Giraldo and the Director Executive of Columbian Chinese Investment and Commerce Mr. Jaime Suarez were presented and made the welcoming speeches.

“With the bilateral trade volume between China and Columbia reaching at 11.13 billion RMB last year, Columbia becomes China’s fifth largest trade partner in Latin America. ” said Vice Chairperson Ms. Lin Bin, “it is believed that there will be more trade potential to tap for both sides in the future.” So far the trade agreement has been signed between CCPIT/WTC Beijing and Columbian Chinese Investment and Commerce expecting much closer, deeper and more diversified cooperation involved in various sectors.

Likewise, the guest speakers form Columbia also made emphasis on the potential of trade cooperation between two countries and expected more opportunities for increased cross-border trade in new sectors such as infrastructure construction and renewable energies in addition to the Agriculture. Right now there is 2,245-hectare land in Columbia being operated by a Chinese company with its production exported to China directly.

The opening ceremony was followed by a matchmaking session attended by the Columbia trade delegation of 9 companies and public organizations related to trade led by the Mr. Carlos Ronderos, WTCA regional development manager for Latin America and 20 Chinese Companies led by CCPIT/WTC Beijing.

In addition to Beijing event, the Columbia trade delegation attended the 10th China-LAC Business summit in Tangshan on Oct.16 and another business forum in Shanghai co-organized with CCPIT/WTC Shanghai.