China attaches great importance to its ties with Costa Rica and is ready to work with the Central American country to promote the stable, sustainable and healthy development of bilateral relations, a leading Chinese lawmaker said in San Jose on Monday.

Uyunqimg, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), the legislative body of China, made the remark here at a meeting with Costa Rican Vice President Laura Chinchilla.

She appreciated Costa Rica's sympathies and aid offered to China after a devastating earthquake struck China's southwestern province of Sichuan on May 12.

Since the two countries established diplomatic relations about a year ago, bilateral ties have undergone rapid, healthy and orderly development, with the mutual trust between the two governments deepened, trade and economic cooperation expanded and exchanges in such fields as humanities, science and technology, energy and finance enhanced, Uyunqimg said, adding that both sides have also maintained good coordination in international and regional affairs.

The NPC and the Costa Rican parliament have also kept close and friendly exchanges, and contributed to the development of bilateral relations, she said.

Chinchilla, for her part, reiterated that Costa Rica will steadfastly pursue the one-China policy. She expressed her satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations and thanked China for its assistance to her country.

She again expressed her sympathies to the heavy casualties and property losses China suffered in the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake and said Costa Rica is willing to cooperate with China in disaster-prevention efforts

Costa Rica is the last leg of Uyunqimg's goodwill tour to Latin America, which has taken her to Chile and Venezuela.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2008)