US officials are set to tour Latin America this week to scout infrastructure projects as they prepare a counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

President Joe Biden’s senior officials will visit Colombia, Ecuador and Panama in a bid to combat President Xi Jinping’s multitrillion-dollar initiative.

The group is tasked with turning Build Back Better World into a reality for several neighbouring nations.

The international infrastructure investment policy was recently announced by the G7.

The US tour will mark the first of several planned “listening tours.” It will allow US officials to speak with the private sector, civil society and “traditionally marginalised groups.”