China, Costa Rica pledge to further ties

Top Chinese political adviser Jia Qinglin and Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla on Tuesday lauded relations between their countries, vowing to further cooperation in various fields.

Since China and Costa Rica established diplomatic relations five years ago, their ties have enjoyed a rapid and stable development, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said during their meeting.

Political mutual trust has been enhanced, trade and economic cooperation deepened and people-to-people exchanges yielding fruitful results, Jia applauded.

China has attached importance to developing ties with Costa Rica, he said, calling on both sides to actively expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and constantly enrich the content of the friendly and cooperative relations.

Jia made a four-point proposal on furthering China-Costa Rica ties.

Firstly, the two countries should keep high-level exchanges, consolidate political mutual trust and continue to support each other on major issues concerning their core interests.

Secondly, they should expand pragmatic cooperation and achieve common development by further expanding trade, enhancing the level of cooperation and promoting trade diversification.

Thirdly, China and Costa Rica should intensify people-to-people exchanges to strengthen the friendship between the two peoples, boost communication and cooperation in such domains as science and technology, tourism, aviation and sports.

Fourthly, the two countries should expand multilateral cooperation, continue to strengthen consultation and dialogue on major international issues, and jointly safeguard the interests of the two countries as well as other developing countries.

For her part, Chinchilla said she had personally felt the vitality and achievements of China during a successful visit to the country in August, expressing her confidence that China would achieve greater development under the new leadership.

She said Costa Rica and China have achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields with only five years of diplomatic relations.

The Costa Rican government is committed to developing relations with China and willing to make joint efforts to continue to promote high-level exchanges, widen communication and cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, culture, science and technology, she added.

After their talks, Jia and Chinchilla witnessed the signing of agreements on economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

Jia arrived in Costa Rica on Monday, the second leg of his three-nation tour after Italy. Later, he will visit Argentina.