China and Colombia signed a cooperation plan on Wednesday to promote the Belt and Road Initiative, the China Central Television reported.

The broadcaster said Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro signed the plan during a meeting.

The duo arrived in Beijing to participate in the ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

The Chinese leader said China was willing to import more high-quality products from Colombia to help Chinese companies invest and do business in the Latin American country.

According to the report, he said they will participate in infrastructure construction there.

The Belt and Road Initiative was adopted by the Chinese government in 2013.

It focuses on road, railway, energy, and digital infrastructure development.

In early May, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said that China posed a threat to people and peace in the Western Hemisphere and claimed that Beijing is investing and operating in the region for unfair economic gain.

China has repeatedly said that its cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean nations was not directed against any other third state.

It accused the U.S. of using the alleged Chinese threat as a pretext for exercising control over the region.

(RIA/NAN)