SAN JOSE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla on Friday said the newly built National Stadium donated by China will be a "permanent monument of friendship" between the two nations.
"The National Stadium will be a permanent monument of friendship between the people of both countries and it will be a permanent symbol of improvement for the Costa Rican people, inspired by the values of the Chinese culture," Chinchilla said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
"Hundreds of Chinese workers spent time here to give us this beautiful jewel, which will host the best sports in Costa Rica," she said, adding that the Costa Rican people are grateful to China for the beautiful stadium.
Costa Rica and China established diplomatic relations in 2007, which "has brought fruitful results for both nations," Chinchilla said.
Long before the establishment of formal ties, Costa Rica had been home to many Chinese immigrants. Bilateral economic and cultural exchanges have been further increased since 2007, she said.
"Officials from both countries have coordinated actions in different aspects of international policy. Bilateral trade and investment have also increased," she said.
Chinchilla said there are plans for the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation and the Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery to build a refinery, and China has also expressed interest in investing in the infrastructure and energy sectors.
A free trade agreement signed last year between the two countries will also boost bilateral trade and investment, she said.
"China and Costa Rica are complementary economies. Costa Rica buys Chinese products it does not produce and China buys Costa Rican products it does not produce, so we will benefit from these trade relations," she added.
Chinchilla said she plans to visit China next year in order to "have high-level meetings on different topics of common concern, adding that she saw positive aspects of the new relationship between the two countries.
"I see a lot of growth possibilities in the Costa Rica economy by exporting its products. I also find possibilities of Chinese investment here in important fields," she said.
She also stressed the importance of promoting Chinese culture in the Central American country as many Costa Ricans are showing interest in learning Chinese language.
The new National Stadium will be inaugurated with a friendly match between the countries' national soccer teams.
Chen Changzhi, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, who is traveling in Costa Rica as special envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao, will attend the handover ceremony together with Chinchilla.
The construction of the 35,000-seat stadium begins in March 2009, as part of the agreements signed during former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias' visit to China in October 2007.
Source: Xinhuanet
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