Chinese President Hu Jintao has begun a short visit to Costa Rica. During his stay in the capital, San José, Mr Hu will sign 11 cooperation agreements. He will also meet President Oscar Arias to discuss the free trade treaty scheduled to take effect between the two countries in 2010.
Costa Rica is, after Chile and Peru, the third Latin American country with which China has discussed free trade agreements. The relationship between the two has blossomed ever since the government in San José decided, in 2007, to break its 60-year-old ties with Taiwan and to begin diplomatic relations with China. Mr Hu called Costa Rica “an important country in Central America and an important partner for Beijing.”
Following his visit to Costa Rica, Mr Hu will travel to Cuba and Peru.
