FINANCIEMIENTO CHINO Y SU INFLUENCIA EN LA EJECUCIÓN DEOBRAS CIVILES ESTATALES: LOS CASOS DEL METRO DE BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA Y EL CUARTO PUENTE EN PANAMÁ

Abstract

China’s growing involvement in infrastructure projects across Latin America has transformed traditional dynamics not only of financing, but also of managerial and operational practices in strategic public works (AidData, 2023; Gallagher, 2014). Through institutions such as the China Development Bank (CDB) and special credit lines, Beijing has provided financial resources with minimal political or social conditionality, thereby facilitating the awarding of major contracts to Chinese state-owned enterprises (AidData, 2023; Kang, 2023). This study examines the influence of financing mechanisms and management practices implemented by Chinese companies in two emblematic projects: the Fourth Bridge over the Panama Canal and the First Line of the Bogotá Metro. In both cases, the projects were awarded to consortia led by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), with financial backing structured by entities such as Banistmo, BBVA, and CHEXIM (Hernández, 2024; Forero Oliveros, 2020). The methodology relies on a comparative literature review based on specialized press, official documents, and academic sources, focusing on aspects such as the origin of financing, the participation of Chinese firms, their managerial models, and observable technical implications (Flyvbjerg, 2013; Ansar et al., 2016).

This analysis is particularly relevant to understanding the risks and opportunities associated with the integration of foreign capital into state infrastructure, especially regarding financial sustainability, potential cost overruns, and dependency (Flyvbjerg, 2013; AidData, 2023). Although the scope is limited to two cases, the study provides critical insights for the broader debate on governance, sustainability, and project management in Latin America.