ＣＰＡＦＦＣ Ｖｉｃｅ Ｐｒｅｓｉｄｅｎｔ Ｌｉ Ｘｉａｏｌｉｎ Ｖｉｓｉｔｓ Ｃｏｓｔａ Ｒｉｃａ

Ｄｅｎｇ　Ｌａｎ

A CPAFFC delegation led by its Vice President Li Xiaolin paid a visit to Costa Rica from November 2 to 5, 2007. President of the Legislative Assembly Francisco Antonio Pacheco, Minister of the Presidency and brother of the Costa Rican president Rodrigo Arias and Vice Foreign Minister Edgar Ugalde met with the delegation. The delegation visited Belen, and had talks with the municipal leaders of Belen and Grecia as well as with leading members of the Costa Rica-China Friendship Association. Juan Manuel de Jesus Flores, president of the Central American Federation of Friendship with China and mayor of Quezaltepeque of El Salvador specially came to meet CPAFFC Vice President Li Xiaolin and had talks with her about future cooperation with the CPAFFC.

This was the first important Chinese delegation visiting Costa Rica since Costa Rican President visited China in October 2007. Minister Arias said that he had accompanied the president on his successful visit to China, during which the Costa Rican delegation signed with the Chinese government quite a few aggreements on cooperation and got much humanitarian aid from China. To this he expressed his sincere gratitude and said, the Costa Rican government and people feel proud that their country is the first Central American country that has established diplomatic relations with China. He said, it is a wise act that Costa Rica establishes diplomatic relations with China, which will bring benifits to the country and its people. Li Xiaolin said, because of separation from each other for more than 60 years, the Chinese and Costa Rican people have little knowledge about each other. Two years ago she failed to visit Costa Rica as scheduled due to visa problem. Now, the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries has brought good opportunities for exchanges of visits between the two countries. The CPAFFC will coordinate with various Chinese departments to carry out all kinds of exchange activities such as sending acrobatic troupes and song and dance ensembles, holding dress and adornment exhibitions, etc. to enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

During her visit in Belen, Vice President Li Xiaolin was accorded grand and warm reception. Mayor Alvarado and Chairman Villegas of the Municipal Council of Belen, Mayor Arquedas and chairman Alfaro of the Municpal Council of Grecia, together with other government officials and representatives of youth and children of the two cities welcomed the delegation and invited Li to answer questions about exchanges between the young people of the two countries, environmental protection, womens status in China, etc. She answered the questions one by one. The meeting proceeded in an enthusiastic atmosphere.

The mayors of the two cities hoped that their cities would establish friendly relations with appropriate Chinese cities. Vice President Li said, in the past as the two countries hadnt had diplomatic relations, the development of friendly relations between cities of the two countries was hindered. Now we would give great support to developing relations between the cities of the two countries and give priority to the above two cities.