Costa Rica Opens
Singapore Embassy
Costa Rica now has an
embassy in Singapore,
opening its doors for
the first time in that
Asian country,
appointing Juan Fernando
Cordero as ambassador.
The embassy opening
follows the opening of
an embassy in China
earlier this year,
forming part of
president Oscar Arias'
foreign policy in Asia.
"We have to make up for
lost time", said Costa
Rica's foreign minister,
Bruno Stagno, last week,
as Costa Rica continues
to intensify its image
and presence in Asia.
In addition to China and
Singapore, Costa Rica
also has embassies in
Japan and Korea.
"Our presence in
Singapore strengthens
our bilateral interests
with that nation and the
Foro de Cooperación
Económica en Asia
Pacífico (APEC)", said
Stagno.
Singapore is the home of
APEC - the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation -
that promotes liberal
trade and economic
policies alont the
Pacific Rim. APEC is the
only inter governmental
grouping in the world
operating on the basis
of non-binding
commitments, open
dialogue and equal
respect.
APEC has 21 members
which account for
approximately 41% of the
world's population and
approximately 56% of the
world GDP and 49% of
world trade.
Established in 1989,
among APEC's members are
the United States,
Australia, Canada,
China, Japan, Korea.
Mexico, Singapore and
Thailand. |
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