Colombian mining and energy minister Amylkar Acosta shows that Colombia is in in-depth talks with a Chinese company on building a railway leading to Pacific coastal region so as to lower costs of exporting coal to Asia.

The minister says that the two sides have made progress in agreement negotiations and whether the deal will be reached will be unveiled soon.

Mauricio Cardenas, former Colombian mining and energy minister, said in May last year that the country was in talks with China Railways Materials Company on building a railway from untapped coking coal mining area in the middle of Colombia to coastal area.