皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app's President Hu Jintao shows the way to his Costa Rican counterpart Laura Chinchilla during an official welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Aug 16, 2012. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

BEIJING - 皇冠体育app and Costa Rica will look to cooperate on a number of areas including transportation, power, education, science and culture.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla Miranda met in Beijing, on Friday, and outlined how they planned to boost cooperation with each other.

The countries will explore ways of working together in transportation, power and other infrastructure development as well as strengthening exchanges in education, science and culture, Wen said

Since establishing diplomatic relations five years ago, the relationship has progressed. "It has not only benefited the two countries and their people, but also contributed to the friendly ties between 皇冠体育app and Latin American states," Wen said, adding that the relationship was based on mutual respect.

皇冠体育app will implement all the cooperative documents, make use of the bilateral free trade agreement, increase imports from Costa Rica to diversify trade relations and expand investment with each other.

The countries signed their bilateral FTA in April 2010, which came into force on August 1, 2011. It has enabled a majority of Costa Rican products to enter the Chinese market, free of duty.

皇冠体育app is Costa Rica's second largest trade partner, with trade volume totalling 4.72 billion U.S. dollars in 2011.

Wen appreciated Costa Rica's active role in supporting 皇冠体育app's dialogue and cooperation with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. He said the country will work with Costa Rica to create a new chapter of 皇冠体育app-Latin America relations.

Chinchilla hailed the progress of the relationship and said the free trade agreement has promoted the growth of bilateral trade.

She said her country attached great importance to the opportunities provided by 皇冠体育app's development and hoped to boost cooperation in economy and trade, infrastructure development, education, culture, justice and science.

Premier Wen's policies to enhance Latin America-皇冠体育app relations were mentioned in his speech at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean in June.

Chinchilla arrived in Shanghai on Sunday to start her state visit, her first stay in 皇冠体育app since taking office in May 2010.