Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on his country and Costa Rica to enhance exchanges and cooperation between their legislatures so as to promote the rule of law in the two countries.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Costa Rican Legislative Assembly President Luis Fernando Mendoza and representatives of political parties in the Central American country.

He noted that prior to the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Costa Rica in 2007, China's National People's Congress and the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly had already carried out friendly exchanges.

The Chinese leader expressed the hope that strengthening inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation will help the two nations enhance mutual understanding and friendship, and promote the development of the bilateral ties.

Speaking on Costa Rica's national development, Xi said that the Costa Rican people have sticken to a development path suitable to their own conditions and that China wishes the country new and greater achievements as it marches along its path of development.

Xi arrived in San Jose on Sunday for a state visit aimed at promoting cooperation between China and the Central American country.

Earlier on Monday, he met with his Costa Rican counterpart Laura Chinchilla for talks on the development of the bilateral ties.

Xi said his meeting with Chinchilla is fruitful, adding that they reached important consensus on the future development of the bilateral ties.

The two presidents agreed that China and Costa Rica, despite their different conditions, are both at a crucial stage of development and face new opportunities to develop their relationship, according to the Chinese leader.

Xi said China will work with Costa Rica in boosting cooperation in all fields so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Mendoza, for his part, said the two peoples have a long history of mutual exchanges although the two nations are geographically far apart.

Since two nations set up diplomatic ties six years ago, they have made substantial accomplishments in their cooperation and exchanges, which has demonstrated the political wisdom and strategic foresight of both sides, he said.

Xi's visit has shown China's willingness to advance the Costa Rica-China relationship, and will surely deepen the friendship between the two peoples and further promote the bilateral ties, Mendoza added.

Representatives of Costa Rican political parties hailed the smooth development of the bilateral relations, and expressed their solid support for developing ties with China and for enhancing exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

Xi is currently in Costa Rica for a state visit to the Central American country, following which he will travel to Mexico and then fly to the U.S. state of California for a summit with U.S. President Barack Obama.

Before Costa Rica, Xi also paid a state visit to Trinidad and Tobago.