Chinatown Planned For
Downtown San José
Costa Ricans have heard
of "Chinatowns" from
reading the news and
movies. However, San
José could soon have its
own Chinatown if a plan
sponsored by the
Municipalidad de San
José gets approval, as
part of firming ties
with Costa Rica's new
trading partner, China.
The Chinese "barrio"
would be located in the
area known as Paseo de
los Estudiantes where
the Municipalidad de San
José and the Republic of
China would promote
Chinese cultural events.
The benefit to San José
is that it would be the
Chinese who would pay
for the completion of
the pedestrain
boulevards in the
downtown core, a project
that was started with
Taiwanese money.
Taiwan stopped the
financing of the
downtown project when
the Costa Rican
government broke
diplomatic relations
last month in favour of
China. Since, San José
municipal officials have
been looking for ways to
finance the completion
of the project.
If the plan moves ahead
as it is expected, soon
the Paseo de los
Estudiantes could be
filled with Chinese
symbols and cultural
activities, which
municipal officials say
will add to the
attraction of the
downtown core. |
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