📋 Tender Overview
China commends the Government of Colombia led by President Duque and other relevant parties for their efforts in implementing the peace agreement. China welcomes the positive progress made in the peace process over the past five years. Colombia held its congressional elections last month. Special electoral districts for peace in rural conflict-affected areas were established with 16 seats in the House of Representatives. This is of a milestone significance. According to the Secretary-Generals report more than 10000 former combatants have been reintegrated with full support and tens of thousands of rural families are gradually abandoning illegal crop cultivation. The number of former combatants who join the productive projects is on a steady rise. These achievements should be treasured.The Colombian peace process has set an example of ending the conflict and building peace through dialogues and negotiations. The peace agreement embodies the common aspiration of the Colombian people for lasting peace and development and will play an irreplaceable and important role in achieving long-term national stability and regional peace and stability. Colombia will hold its presidential election in May this year. It is our hope that the new government will continue to fully implement the peace agreement address the difficulties and challenges in the implementation of the agreement and consolidate the gains made in the hard-won peace.The full implementation of the peace agreement is a long-term and comprehensive process. There is still a long way to go to deepen and consolidate peace and it requires all parties in Colombia and the international community to make relentless efforts. Since the beginning of this year violent conflicts have intensified in many areas including Arauca. Illegal armed groups seriously threaten the safety of former combatants and ethnic minorities. The process of reintegration of former combatants also suffered some setbacks. We believe that the Government and people of Colombia will be able to meet these challenges and fully effectively implement the security provisions in the peace agreement and strengthen the protection of former combatants improve security and strengthen effective governance in former conflict areas. We are convinced that the Government of Columbia will accelerate the dismantling of illegal armed groups and criminal organizations combat the recruitment of children by armed groups and give full play to the role of women and youths in peace-building.Accelerating development is essential for consolidating peace dividends and ending violent conflicts. It is our hope that the Government of Colombia will overcome the challenges of current global crises in energy food and supply chain and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerate land distribution and rural reforms ensure the substitution of illicit crops be sustainable expand basic social services in former conflict areas and promote balanced development in all regions. China supports Latin America in speeding up regional integration and hopes that regional countries will play an active role in supporting Colombia to fully tap its potential in development so as to eliminate the root causes for violent conflicts.
