Analysis: Zhu Jingyang, China's new Ambassador to Colombia
Will Zhu be able to help China bring the country into the BRI fold?
On 30 August, Zhu Jingyang (朱京阳) arrived in Bogota to take up his position as China’s next Ambassador to Colombia1. Zhu replaced Lan Hu (蓝虎), who left Colombia earlier this year to become Ambassador to Venezuela2. Prior to his appointment, Zhu had been serving as Consul General at China’s Consulate-General in Barcelona, Spain.
Zhu Jingyang has had a lengthy and varied diplomatic career with a primary focus on Latin America. Indeed, in addition to his post in Colombia, Zhu has spent time in Peru and Argentina. In between postings, Zhu has held multiple roles at the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). For full details of Zhu’s career, you can find the full CV at the end of this article.
Historically, Colombia has had close ties with the US. This has meant that China has had few opportunities to gain influence in the country. Unsurprisingly, therefore, Colombia has not officially signed onto China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Whilst trade and foreign direct investment from China has increased in recent years, a recent report published by Colombia Risk Analysis (CRA) argues that Chinese ventures in Colombia are facing number of serious setbacks, mostly due to a lack of security and legal guarantees3. Other problems highlighted in the report include political and institutional unpreparedness, and a lack of knowledge about China amongst the government officials.
If China is able to overcome these issues, however, then it may be possible for it to soften relations between Colombia and the United States, thanks in part to President Gustav Petro’s positioning towards the US4. The CRA report on China summarises the issue particularly well:
“Growing antagonism between the US and Petro, due to ineffective security and drug policies; a closer relationship with adversaries such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua; as well as a poor relationship between the Republican Party and Petro, may create a reduction of aid to Colombia or growing rhetorical displeasure between the US and Colombia. These circumstances will likely push Petro to seek trade opportunities with China.”5
It is, therefore, essential that China overcomes the obstacles that are currently hindering its progress in Colombia, especially if it wishes to challenge the US’s influence in the country. Indeed, at a meeting held on 12 September with a group of overseas Chinese in Colombia, Zhu emphasised that the embassy is working hard to alleviate the problems they are currently facing6. As China’s main representative in the country, Zhu will have an important role to play.
On 11 September, Zhu met with Luis Fernando Velasco, Colombia’s recently appointed Minister of the Interior7, where he raised the issue of the safety and legal rights. Zhu iterated that he hoped Colombia would be able to ensure the safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens and corporations. Whilst Velasco said Colombia would try to protect them, it is too soon to know if he will fulfil his promise.
During his first two weeks in office, Zhu also met with the President of the Colombia-China Chamber of Investment and Commerce8 and the President of ProColombia9, with the goal of increasing trade and investment in Colombia.
To recap, Zhu’s appointment comes at a time when US – Colombia relations have been weakening, giving China the chance to increase its influence in the country. Given that the US still has not appointed a new Ambassador to Colombia to replace Philip S. Goldberg, who left his post in June 202210, it is understandable why onlookers in China may be optimistic.
First, however, China must ensure the safety and legal rights of its citizens and enterprises in Colombia if it wants to make future projects in the country a success, with the goal of eventually signing Colombia up to the BRI.
Zhu Jingyang’s CV11
1995 - 2004: Staff member, Attaché, Third Secretary, and Deputy Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Department, MFA
2004 - 2008: Second Secretary and First Secretary, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Peru
2008 - 2009: First Secretary, Department of Latin America and Caribbean, MFA
2009 - 2010: Deputy Director, Office of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the CPPCC National Committee
2010 - 2011: Director, Department of Latin America and Caribbean, MFA
2011 - 2015: Counselor, Embassy in the Republic of Argentina
2015 - 2018: Counselor and Director, Department of Latin America and Caribbean, MFA
2018 - 2021: Counselor, Translation Department, MFA
202112 - 2023: Consul General of China in Barcelona
2023 - Present: Ambassador to Colombia
References
https://web.archive.org/web/20230911042953/http://co.china-embassy.gov.cn/sgxwfb/202308/t20230830_11135275.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20230911044322/http://ve.china-embassy.gov.cn/zjsg/
https://web.archive.org/web/20230912045108/https://mcusercontent.com/ec9dfe3030795aea9dd7ee1b6/files/02f19f81-7139-9807-8902-391b4727f372/Special_Report_Local_perceptions_of_Chinese_investment_in_Colombia_FINAL_ENG.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20230913054053/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/colombia/why-washington-still-needs-colombia-petro
https://web.archive.org/web/20230912045108/https://mcusercontent.com/ec9dfe3030795aea9dd7ee1b6/files/02f19f81-7139-9807-8902-391b4727f372/Special_Report_Local_perceptions_of_Chinese_investment_in_Colombia_FINAL_ENG.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20230913040211/http://co.china-embassy.gov.cn/sgxwfb/202309/t20230913_11141926.htm
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https://web.archive.org/web/20230912124326/http://co.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/sgxwfb/202309/t20230912_11141319.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20230912124323/http://co.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/sgxwfb/202309/t20230905_11137971.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20230913061907/https://www.state.gov/appointment-of-senior-advisor-palmieri-as-charge-daffaires-a-i-at-embassy-bogota/
https://web.archive.org/web/20230907021241/http://barcelona.china-consulate.gov.cn/chn/zlsgxx/zlsjl/202110/t20211027_10143442.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20230911030711/http://barcelona.china-consulate.gov.cn/sbjw/202307/t20230728_11119476.htm