This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-12448580
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
China and Colombia announce 'alternative Panama Canal' | China and Colombia announce 'alternative Panama Canal' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Colombia has announced it is negotiating with China to build an alternative to the Panama Canal. | Colombia has announced it is negotiating with China to build an alternative to the Panama Canal. |
The proposed transport route is intended to promote the flow of goods between Asia and Latin America. | The proposed transport route is intended to promote the flow of goods between Asia and Latin America. |
The plan is to create a "dry canal" where the Pacific port of Buenaventura would be linked by rail, across Colombia, to the Atlantic Coast. | The plan is to create a "dry canal" where the Pacific port of Buenaventura would be linked by rail, across Colombia, to the Atlantic Coast. |
Trade between Colombia and China has increased from $10m in 1980 to more than $5bn last year. | Trade between Colombia and China has increased from $10m in 1980 to more than $5bn last year. |
The announcement came from the Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, who told the Financial Times that the project was "a real proposal... and it is quite advanced". | The announcement came from the Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, who told the Financial Times that the project was "a real proposal... and it is quite advanced". |
China has been increasing its involvement across Latin America to feed a growing need for raw materials and commodities. | China has been increasing its involvement across Latin America to feed a growing need for raw materials and commodities. |
According to BBC Bogota correspondent Jeremy McDermott, President Santos has departed from the emphasis on security of his predecessor Alvaro Uribe. | |
Mr Uribe's Democratic Security Policy, backed by US military aid, is credited with halving the numbers of Marxist rebels and pushing them into the more remote jungles and mountains. | |
Mr Santos is concentrating on what he calls "democratic prosperity", our correspondent says. | |
He hopes that economic development will address some of the root issues of the 46-year civil conflict, such as poverty and the lack of opportunities, which have pushed people into being rebels or into the lucrative drug trade, our correspondent says. |
Previous version
1
Next version