In an interview with the Financial Times, the President of Colombia revealed that a proposal to create a railroad linking the Atlantic with the Pacific was “quite advanced.” Juan Manuel Santos confirmed reports that China are proposing a rival alternative to the Panama Canal, stating that “It’s incredible how many Chinese delegations we have been receiving.”
He also revealed plans that would involve creating a “whole city south of Cartagena in the Caribbean as a hub for production and assembly to export to the rest of South & Central America and even to the United States.”
The Panama Canal is a 77km long shipping canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built in 1914, it is one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken.
The canal had an enormous impact on shipping between the two oceans and this new railroad intends to rival it. It is thought that the development would be used to transport coal and Chinese imports between Asia and Latin America.
The proposal is certainly an ambitious one and would create a direct link between China and Colombia. With China’s financing, this project would be feasible and as China is currently Colombia’s second largest trade partner after the United States, it is unsurprising that Santos is so eager about this “incredible” project.
