Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno announced Wednesday
that the government has set up an embassy in China's capital
Beijing, following up on Costa Rica and China establishing
diplomatic relations on June 1.
The embassy will contain a consular office and Foreign Trade
Ministry office to boost exports to China, the minister said.
He said that Costa Rica's decision to break its diplomatic
relationship with China's Taiwan province and establish one with
Beijing represents "a milestone in Costa Rican diplomacy."
He reiterated that the move represents "an act of political
realism," adding that "this decision sits alongside the efforts we
are making to open embassies in India and Singapore, and to
incorporate Costa Rica in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
Forum."
He said that a diplomatic relationship with Beijing will boost
cooperation and draw Chinese investment to Costa Rica, describing
China as "the biggest market in the world and an economy with
vigorous growth."
China currently buys US$1.08 billion worth of Costa Rican goods
each year, and is the second most important export market for the
nation after the US.
"We have begun an important but gradual process, from which we
expect greater efficiency and quality from our diplomatic efforts,"
he said, adding that the specific diplomatic staff will be named
shortly.
Costa Rica's President Oscar Arias is preparing his first
official visit to China which will include some bilateral
agreements, Stagno added.
(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2007)
