🤝 Chinese links and lithium leaks

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• Petro to meet Xi Jinping amid US-China trade war

• How the lithium rush is worsening the Atacama’s water crisis

Colombia's Petro preaches multilateralism in China

Colombian President Gustavo Petro landed in China on Monday, beginning a six-day visit centered on deepening diplomatic and economic ties with one of his country’s top trade partners. His trip includes an appearance at a high-level forum between China and members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), the pro tempore presidency of which Petro took on last month.

Driving the news. Flanked by leftist allies from Brazil and Chile, Petro said the summit would help “strengthen diplomatic, economic and cooperation ties” with Beijing. But the centerpiece of his visit is expected to be when he personally hands President Xi Jinping a letter requesting Colombia’s entry into the Belt and Road Initiative — China’s vast global infrastructure and development strategy.

👉 Why it matters. The move would align Colombia with 23 Latin American countries already participating in the Chinese-led program, which has invested billions of dollars in the region and helped Beijing overtake the United States as South America’s largest trade partner.

In his words. “What harm has China done to us?” Petro said before the trip. “Did it invade us? Did it take Panama from us?” he added, alluding to US involvement in Panama’s 1903 independence from Colombia.

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