On September 11, 2008, CCPIT and Costa Rica Council for the Promotion of Foreign Trade co-hosted China - the Central America Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. Vice Chairman of CCPIT Yu Ping, Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaoyuan in Costa Rica, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica Pacheco, Chairman of Costa Rica Council for the Promotion of Foreign Trade Hess, President of School of Business Management of the Central American Mr. Arturo Condo,and other spokesmen as well as entrepreneur representatives from China, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador , the Dominican Republic and other countries ,a total of more than 150 people, attended the meeting and extensively exchanged ideas on economic and trade situation and cooperation prospects of China and the countries in Central America.
Vice Chairman Yu Ping expressed in his speech that China has always attached importance to promoting the development of economic and trade relations between China and Central American countries, has established a close cooperative relations with many business associations in the region, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with these associations in the future and provide timely and effective services for the mutually beneficial cooperation between enterprises of both sides.
Vice Minister Pacheco and other Costa Rican spokesmen recalled the rapid and all-round development of bilateral relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties a year ago, and expressed the strong desire of launching China-Costa Rica free trade agreement negotiations as soon as possible and strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation.
Mayor of the city of Quezaltepeque of El Salvador, President of China - the Central American Friendship Association Flores, consultant of the Dominican Export & Investment Promotion Centre Alvarez, and professor of Guatemala Francisco Marroquin University Mr. Helmut Wintzer respectively introduced economic and trade development and opportunities of these three countries, and pointed out that Chinese enormous markets and international influence should not be ignored in the long-term, and Costa Rican successful experience of actively developing relations with China should be learnt ,achieving mutual benefits and win-win situation.
Baernuoya, Shanghai World Expo Chief Representative of the Government of Guatemala, introduced to the delegates present the unprecedented scale of Shanghai World Expo and Guatemala's exhibition plan, and initiated the Central American countries into jointly participating in the Expo, taking advantaging of the Shanghai World Expo to display Central America splendors to China and other countries all over the world.
In a warm and friendly atmosphere, members present made statement positively and enthusiastically. Successful enterprise representatives from the two sides also exchanged experience in developing each other's markets. Subsequently, the delegates carried out discussion with their counterparts, and visited the trade fairs of the People's Republic of China held in the same period.
