After the United States, China is Colombia’s second largest trade partner.

In order to facilitate and foster trade between China, Colombia, and gobal partners, China has been in discussions with Colombia to initiate a “dry canal” which would connect trade from the Pacific to the Atlantic by way of a rail line.

A new city has even been proposed on the Atlantic side of the connection.

In addition to circumventing the Panama canal, the rail system would allow Chinese goods to be assembled in Colombia to become value added exports to the east.

Given its importance to international trade, Colombia is not unique in its ambitions to rival Panama’s canal. Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica have all put forth plans at some point to connect the two oceans.