Economy

Colombia’s China Push: How Coffee, Flowers, and the Belt and Road Initiative Are Reshaping Trade Ties

Colombia, guest of honor at CIIE, eyes deeper China ties, boosting exports like coffee and flowers amid rising trade.

November 10, 2025, 9:13 AM

Large, modern promotional stand for Colombia at the Fitur travel exhibition in Madrid.

The modern and expansive Colombian promotional stand is displayed at the Fitur 2021 travel fair in Madrid. By Rebel Red Runner / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

Colombia is the guest country of honor at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, signaling efforts to deepen economic ties with China and marking its official entry into China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2025.

Colombia is showcasing key exports such as coffee (second-largest supplier to China), flowers (second-largest global producer, 10% of China’s fresh cut flower imports), and beef, with China becoming the most important market for Colombian beef.

China has emerged as Colombia’s second-biggest trade partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $20.8 billion in 2024 and consistently surpassing 120 billion yuan for four consecutive years.

The Story So Far

Colombia’s presence as the guest country of honor at the China International Import Expo, and its official entry into China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2025, reflect a strategic effort to deepen its already significant economic ties with China, which has become its second-biggest trade partner with consistently growing bilateral trade. This engagement aims to further expand market access for Colombia’s key exports, such as coffee, flowers, and beef, into China’s substantial market.

Why This Matters

Colombia’s strategic engagement as the guest country of honor at China’s CIIE and its upcoming entry into the Belt and Road Initiative signal a significant deepening of economic ties, promising expanded market access for key Colombian agricultural exports like coffee, flowers, and beef, while further solidifying China’s trade and investment footprint in South America.

Who Thinks What?

Colombia, represented by Commercial Counselor Oscar Felipe Rueda, views its participation as guest country of honor at the China International Import Expo and its upcoming entry into the Belt and Road Initiative as strategic opportunities to showcase its key exports and significantly deepen economic relationships with China.

China, by hosting Colombia as the guest country of honor and engaging in rapidly increasing bilateral trade, signals its commitment to expanding trade and investment with the South American nation, leveraging Colombia’s agricultural strengths to meet its vast market demand.

Colombia is the guest country of honor at this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, signaling a strategic effort to deepen economic ties with China. The South American nation’s participation highlights its key export products, including coffee, flowers, and handicrafts, while marking its recent official entry into China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2025. This engagement follows a significant increase in bilateral trade, which reached 149.63 billion yuan (approximately 20.8 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024.

Showcasing Colombian Heritage and Exports

The Colombian national pavilion at the CIIE offers visitors an immersive experience, beginning with a tasting of its renowned coffee. According to Oscar Felipe Rueda, Commercial Counselor of the Colombian Embassy in China, Colombia is currently the second-largest supplier of coffee to the Chinese market. The pavilion also features a water curtain symbolizing the Magdalena River, representing the country’s rich biodiversity.

A prominent display of orchids, Colombia’s national flower, underscores its position as the world’s leading country in orchid varieties and the second-largest global flower producer. Colombian flower exports now constitute approximately 10 percent of China’s fresh cut flower imports, reflecting a rapidly expanding market.

Strengthening Economic Partnership

China has emerged as Colombia’s second-biggest trade partner. Rueda noted that beyond coffee and flowers, beef meat has become a crucial export, with China becoming the most important market for Colombian beef within a year of receiving import permission. The consistent growth in trade volume, which has surpassed 120 billion yuan for four consecutive years, indicates robust economic engagement between the two nations.

Colombia’s status as the guest country of honor is viewed by Rueda as a reflection of strengthening bilateral relationships and a symbol of good fortune. The nation’s decision to officially join China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2025 is expected to further invigorate this economic “dance” across the Pacific Ocean.

Outlook for Cooperation

The collaboration showcased at the CIIE and Colombia’s integration into the Belt and Road Initiative underscore a mutual commitment to expanding trade and investment. These developments are poised to create new avenues for economic cooperation, leveraging Colombia’s agricultural strengths and China’s vast market demand.