President Hu Jintao and his Costa Rican counterpart Oscar
Arias Sanchez on Wednesday agreed to develop a lasting, steady,
healthy and deep bilateral relationship of friendship and
cooperation.
The two presidents reached "broad consensus" on developing such
a relationship during their hour-long talk at the Great Hall of the
People in Beijing, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Hu spoke highly of Arias's "important contribution" to the
establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Costa Rica,
which took place on June 1 this year, saying the establishment of
such ties had "opened a new chapter for bilateral relations."
Hu expressed his appreciation for Costa Rica's adherence to the
one-China policy.
He proposed four aspects of measures to strengthen China-Costa
Rica friendship, including strengthening friendly exchanges of
high-level leaders, governmental departments, legislative bodies
and political parties, expanding economic and trade cooperation,
increasing exchanges of personnel on culture and education, and
maintaining coordination in international and regional
organizations.
Hu promised that China is willing to import more products from
Costa Rica and encourage Chinese enterprises to give priority to
Costa Rica when considering places for investment, adding China
also welcomes Costa Rican enterprises to develop market in
China.
Agreeing with Hu's proposals, Arias said it is important for
Costa Rica to develop economic and trade cooperation with China. He
expressed his thanks to the Chinese government for providing help
and his hope that more Chinese enterprises will invest in Costa
Rica.
Arias stressed that Costa Rica adheres to the one-China policy
and opposes Taiwan's attempts?to "join in" the UN, saying the
"referendum" on UN entry, pushed by the Taiwan authorities, is of
great danger and doomed to fail.
He said Costa Rica is proud to be the first country in Central
America to establish diplomatic relations with China and facts have
proved that it is a correct decision and will bring about important
opportunities for the development of Costa Rica.
After the talks, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony
of cooperation agreements covering technologies, investment,
culture, public health and agriculture.
(Xinhua News Agency October 25, 2007)
