The 31st regular meeting of the Andean Community (CAN) Council of Foreign Ministers was held on September 30 local time in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution, officially admitting China as an observer state of the organization.
The Andean Community was established in May 1969 and is an important regional economic integration organization in Latin America. Its headquarters is located in Lima, the capital of Peru. It currently has four official member states: Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia. Chile and Venezuela withdrew from the organization in 1976 and 2006, respectively.
According to CCTV reports, the participating member states expressed that China has always played an important role in the international community and global governance. China's admission as an observer state to the CAN is of great historical significance. They look forward to using this as an opportunity to promote bilateral cooperation, drive regional economic integration and sustainable development, and better safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
Zhang Liping, acting chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Colombia and the representative of the Chinese side, was invited to attend the meeting and deliver a speech on behalf of China. He appreciated the CAN's decision to admit China as an observer state, stating that China is willing to work with the Latin American side to jointly implement the "five major projects" of building a China-Latin America community with a shared future, initiate a new cooperation pattern of mutual promotion between bilateral and multilateral relations, and better benefit the peoples of both sides.
At this meeting, Ecuador succeeded Colombia as the rotating presidency of the CAN for a one-year term.