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Friday, January 29th, 2016  |  USD: Buy 531.29 / Sell 543.92
20 years

$24 million donation from China requires use of Chinese firms to carry out works, President says

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(Photo courtesy of Casa Presidencial)

(Photo courtesy of Casa Presidencial)

February 16th, 2015 (InsideCostaRica.com) A grant of $24 million donated by China to Costa Rica in January comes with some strings attached, President Luis Guillermo Solis revealed on Thursday while speaking to reporters during a visit to the port of Caldera.

 

According to the president, the agreement dictates that many of the projects funded with the grant must involve the hiring of Chinese companies to perform the works, adding that the agreement came with “various conditions.”

 

Solis said he had already met with the Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rica to begin defining the projects for which the grant money would be used.  Solis said that four initiatives that are part of the country’s National Development Plan would benefit from the grant, without providing specifics.

 

The agreement was announced on January 7th by Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Solis during a trip by the Costa Rican president to the Asian powerhouse.

 

 

 

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  • Biz Duck

    Please always refer to them by their proper name “Communist China” Thank you.

    • CostaRicaChris

      Ha, you are one of those who still believes in the communist bogey or at least uses it to frighten the ignorant.
      The correct name is ‘The People’s Republic of China’.
      Communism died when the collapse of the Soviet Union finally proved that collectivisation etc did not work. The party is still named so in China, but is more of a rule by the elite these days, like the US.
      For other reasons, the US needs to fear China today, much more so than when it was truly communist. Its ex communist economic success is eclipsing that of the US.
      China is interfereing in Latin America, much as the US always did and still does.
      As to your emotive picture of executions- the US and China are the biggest executors, though if you add in the US’s drone killings and bombings of other countries it draws far ahead. One wonders whether the botched lethal injections and other long drawn out judicial murders in the US are any more humane.
      Damn both countries!

      • Karen Mata

        “Much as the US (interfered in LA) always did and still does.”

        Such as paying off CR’s bonds in the 80s (to the tune of billions) when they could no longer pay the interest, or maybe building and then giving Panama the canal?
        Is that the type of interference we can expect from China??

        CR Chris may have been here for all of a decade now, (probably a lot less, but I’m loving the swagger) he’s certainly got the party line down pat, “This is the 6 PM news, and this is what we want you to think.”

        CRC, or CROC, what’s the date on your DD214, pally?? I know better, you’d wet yourself at the thought.

        • http://www.penmanhouse.com/ Aaron Aalborg

          You make the US sound like a charity instead of an imperial power controlled by its largest business interests. Your view of LatAm history is naive and you will be hard pushed to find many LatAm people agreeing with you, other than the failed fascist regimes, long supported by the US, before their collapse.

          • Karen Mata

            I merely quote irrefutable facts, Mr. Aalborg.
            And your degree of hypocrisy is truly beyond the pale.
            Thanks to the US and allies, the gutless French still have a country and language.
            You also conveniently forget the Marshall Plan and the Vichy Regime.

            Please spare us the details of your wealth. Many of us here have made it but mentioning the fact is repugnant, like you, sir.

          • http://www.penmanhouse.com/ Aaron Aalborg

            Your perception of facts is the most twisted I have ever read. Your views and comments are totally US centric. If your country had been over run by the Nazi’s you might have a greater understanding of what happened in France. I am not French and so will not defend them further.
            You are ther one who tried to label me as poor, as though that makes any difference. I was merely straightening out your leaping to silly conclusions, as you were obviously trying to feel superior to me.
            I am done with wasting more time on such a prejudiced person.
            You have my sympathy.

          • Karen Mata

            “You are the one who tried to label me as poor”
            Total misstatement.
            Once again I will repeat. The wealthy rarely, if ever mention the fact, and most certainly not here.
            Why when CRChris is attacked by dnutz are you responding in first person? Are you posting under multiple handles? At the very least you’re confused and pathetic. haha

            I am in awe of your great wealth though.
            It’s so funny. Tell us again!!

      • disgusted

        So what the choice living under a Communist rule like China or USA?? Well for me it would not be China .

        There are no botched lethal injections as long as the person dead. IF you had any family member brutally murdered maybe you think differently on that account.

        • http://www.penmanhouse.com/ Aaron Aalborg

          You might feel OK with the Chinese picture, if you had a family member killed in China and you were Chinese no?
          Back to the US- What if the person was subsequently found to be innocent after DNA evidence, as often happens. Being black in the southern US is often enough for a conviction, but maybe you are OK with that. Hypocracy is why the US is so unpopular around much of the world. The US is the biggest extra legal killer on the planet.

          • disgusted

            I do not think it always being of color. It is the being poor. However , the jury system and our courts are the best. Even though OJ got off Scott free it was his money that bought the best defense.. My girlfriends mother of 90 yrs old was brutally murdered by a crack addict in Hood River, Oregon years back. No doubt about it . However, they settled for 40 yrs no parole. He will be 63 yr old when he gets out assume he lives that long. We of course will be long gone. I was with the brother Ike wanting the death penalty.. I do not understand your question about China.. However it doesn’t matter anyway.

          • http://www.penmanhouse.com/ Aaron Aalborg

            Sorry to hear about your personal involvement in crime. It must have been a horrible experience. I am not for letting such people out, unless their conviction is overthrown for good reasons.

          • Karen Mata

            Well it seems they missed one, pally.

          • expatin paradise

            I agree with you for the most part, but racism in the US is not restricted to the south. Recent executions by cops in Washington state, New York, and St Louis prove that racism against black people is not limited to the south. It also shows that something needs to be done about abusive cops in the US.

            Besides being a leader in executions, the US also leads in the percentage of population incarcerated.

            As for the US buying CR’s debt and loyalty in the 1980s, remember that the US was waging a war in Nicaragua at that time and using CR as a staging center.

          • CostaRicaChris

            Agree wholeheartedly

    • fsdf

      Bro, that picture is of north korea executing a woman, not China. Look it up.

  • Biz Duck

    Does this mean we get a discount on organs now? http://www.stoporganharvesting.org/

  • dirtynutz

    Soon the CHINKOS will own half of this country like they own most of NYC. DON’T BUY THEIR PRODUCTS, THEY ARE GARBAGE AND MIGHT CONTAIN TOXIC MATERIALS.

    • CostaRicaChris

      You will be living a rather deprived life, if you buy nothing Chinese. That is true, wherever you live in the world.
      Racist slurs show utter ignorance and lack of empathy with others. Go back to your bunker.

      • Jayberto

        folks with faulty memories perhaps dont realize who built the stadium in Sabana. If the Chinese build it, it will be done properly and muy rapido.. and just for those who care… Taiwan is not part of the PRC… Taipai is the capital.

        • CostaRicaChris

          Thanks Jay. Sadly, the Chinese say that Taiwan is part of the PRC and part of their strategy in LatAm is to require those accepting their loans and other investments to stop recognizing Taiwan as an independent state. This is a pity because the majority of Taiwanese would rather remain indepenedent.

          Argentina has just announced a large arms package from China, much to the chagrin of its near neighbour and sometime adversary Chile. As part of the deal Argentina recognizes China’s claims to Taiwan and China recognizes Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands, currently a British possession.
          The Brits are busy building up their forces in the Falklands once more, to resist any attacks. The Falkland islanders do not want to be part of Argentina.
          The fishing and oil riches around the Falklands are valuable assets.

        • dirtynutz

          You live in a box if you think they build things “properly”

      • dirtynutz

        You have a low sense of quality and probably live on your USA Gov’t check if you think you can’t buy nothing Chinese.

        Or a Tico who never left CR

        • http://www.penmanhouse.com/ Aaron Aalborg

          You have little understanding of how things are made. Your computer, TV and much else is likely to have Chinese components. Your trainers will likely be made in China.
          Sorry to disappoint you, but I am one of the 1% and my social security checks don’t even keep me in French Champagne or pay for any of my first class global travel.
          Why do you have this thing against the poor anyway? Are you some kind of snob? Do you laugh at the disabled too?

    • Jayberto

      you got your name right,,, then went downhill from there.

      • dirtynutz

        can’t be any worse than yours

  • prdatki

    If the Chinks build it it will be with poor workmanship, cheap material and dangerous.

    • CostaRicaChris

      You really should travel more. Hong Kong, Singapore and dozens of other cities built by ethnic Chinese make US cities look like 1930s theme parks.

      The Great Wall has lasted for two thousand years.

      • http://trailerparkshow.com/ James Ritter

        You forgot Taipei, and they are still Communist China.

        • CostaRicaChris

          Actually, though functional, Teipei is a very ugly city, which is why I missed it off the list.
          The architects must have trained in ‘Tico yuk’ as an architectural style.

          Definitions of communism must be very wide, if you think the rampant capitalism of China today is and the virtual Socialism of the US is not.

        • Jayberto

          Sorry, James…. we are sending some emissaries to your house to repossess your GED…that’s a fail!

          • http://trailerparkshow.com/ James Ritter

            OH no not the GED repo man.

          • http://trailerparkshow.com/ James Ritter

            Taipei does have one of the tallest buildings in the world. And the cities mention are not in Communist China, Honk Kong has not changed very much since communism took over. U.S. prosperity and China’s are very different in background and direction.

          • http://trailerparkshow.com/ James Ritter

            Oh I see no Taipei is not in communist China. I meant China is still communist.

      • prdatki

        Well I have seen the quality or lack off in there cars, ply wood and there construction of the stadium. Cheap, shoddy and dangerous!

        • mhogan

          You get what you pay for. Want a cheap car, your choice.

    • Jayberto

      Like the stadium in Sabana…or perhaps that happened before your time? It’s when Chinese replaced Taiwan (which is NOT in China) as Ticos best friends.

    • http://www.penmanhouse.com/ Aaron Aalborg

      Costa Rica is a developing country. It is full of resurrected US cars, welded together from scrapyards and flood damaged. It is up to the government to check that vehicles and construction meet standards. (LOL).
      You might ask similar questions about Tico construction. Look at the roads and bridges. Then check your house.
      All I can tell you is that: 1. The Chinese are now the owners of the Hummer; 2. the sole suppliers of the famous London Taxis and that 3. folk used to say the same about Japanese quality, till they trounced every single US car manufacturer and are now number 1 in the world.
      I advised several global firms in Asia and in China in particular. Within a few years the Chinese were slaughtering them on both volume and quality.
      Any global firm that is not manufacturing in China yet is likely to fail or is already moving to cheaper locations like India Vietnam and Cambodia. The Indians now own Jaguar and Landrover and have improved the build quality and volume.
      Welcome to the global economy.

      • Ben

        What the hell are you saying? You are a communist this is very clear you will fit in with the new pres in CR.

        • http://www.penmanhouse.com/ Aaron Aalborg

          Actually, I am neither a communist nor a lover of China. I am a wealthy, retired business CEO who likes to take a balanced view of the world, which you clearly do not.
          You need to get over your McCarthy era views. Things have moved on.

    • mhogan

      Your words are offensive and I’m not just speaking political correctness. The Chinese can and do build quality stuff — they also build junk; as long as there is a market for junk, they will fill it. Historically, the Chinese culture is rich in invention and I would guess you and all those who gave you a “like” take advantage of their long history of technology on a daily basis. Suggest you research ALL the inventions that came out of China and you will find it is hundredfold of anything whatever country you come from invented.

  • CostaRicaChris

    This is normal for international aid packages.
    As Costa Rica cannot run any project effectively, it is also a good thing.
    The Chinese are great at infrastructure and building things quickly and effectively.
    The less chance the sticky fingers of government corruption, bureaucracy and ineptitude are involved in projects the better.

    • Jayberto

      True Dat!!! Chinos leave the latter at home when they travel and excel at the former. Seen the Stadium?

  • Frank

    You could also say that when the US bombs a country and say they will rebuild and give the country and give them 4 Billion dollars, that money goes to hiring American companies to do the work as well.

  • SarongGoddess

    Hasn’t CR learned yet?? Granted quality is not the forte here but no way in HELL would I want to be in the national stadium in a big earthquake. I swear I’ve read before of all sorts of problems from the stadium & then it was up to CR to maintain it but no $$ to do that. Am I wrong??

    I feel SOOOO Sorry for the Tico’s as things seem to be spiraling down on many levels. Especially where work is concerned.

    • mhogan

      It’s spiraling down because of the mentality that the government owes (owns) the people. They have given up their freedom for a nanny state. Once they get a taste of government handouts for everything, what’s the incentive to try to be responsible for yourself. In all fairness, the “rich” elite Costaricenses have stripped the country through corruption BUT the people let it happen — so shame on them.

      • Karen Mata

        Viva Panama!!, mh??

  • Ben

    Costa Rica is now a Communist Country the only person that does not know it is the CR people. The CR goverment is a mess and i see unemployment could hit as high as 15% in the next 3 months.

    • Karen Mata

      Hello, Ben.

      Their options are:
      1. Default on their bond obligations
      or
      2 Take any deal China offers

      • Ben

        Costa Rican ruling Familes have driven CR right into the mess and now the poor like Leftwing system. After the rich steal everything in CR the only thing left is rice and beans for the poor.

  • Patrick Smyth

    A house in Vancouver just sold for $51 million. That puts the bribe into perspective.

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