Colombia’s foreign minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo (L) is interviewed by People’s Daily Online (Photo/People's Daily Online)

Colombia’s foreign minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo commended China’s achievements in development over the past seven decades during an interview with People’s Daily Online. He said he was especially impressed by the large-scale infrastructure projects including Beijing’s Daxing airport and the fully-automated port in Shanghai.

The Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez recently concluded his state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. His visit to China is of great significance, as it indicates the deepening of bilateral relations and cooperation in politics, economy and culture, said Trujillo.

2020 will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Trujillo noted. Both sides will continue their exchange of high-level visits next year, and strengthen cooperation in economy, trade and investment.

China has become Columbia's second-largest trading partner. Recent years have witnessed a continuous growth in bilateral trade which hit a historical high in 2018, with total goods traded worth $14.6 billion, said the foreign minister.

Colombia is seeking more cooperation with China, wishing to spread the scope from economy to all areas including technology, agriculture and animal husbandry, he continued.

In the interview, Trujillo expressed his expectations for the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), which is scheduled for this November. He praised the CIIE as a booster for deeper economic relations between the two countries and said it’s conducive for both to enter into a positive cycle of economic and trade connections.

Speaking of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Trujillo said China’s growing achievements were remarkable and impressive. A large-scale airport like Beijing Daxing airport can be completed within five years, and the Shanghai port is in full automation. These both demonstrate China’s national strength.

China now plays a crucial role in promoting global trade and investment and in the world’s political arena, said Trujillo.

He expressed Colombia’s firm support for multilateralism and hope of strengthening cooperation and coordination with China when dealing with global issues to promote the international community toward multi-polarization.