Arias Off To China To
Seek Trade Deal
Costa Rican president
Oscar Arias is looking
for investment and trade
opportunities as he
heads to Costa Rica's
newest ally, China,
today.
The visit comes four
months after Costa Rica
switched its diplomatic
recognition from Taiwan
to China. Since then,
other Central American
nations have
reconsidered their close
ties with Taiwan,
although none have
broken off ties
completely with the
self-ruled island.
Arias' trip also follows
his country's vote to
join the Central
American Free Trade
Agreement with the U.S.
"For Chinese businesses,
Costa Rica is a very
attractive market, not
only because of the
education level of its
workers, but also for
the potential to export
to the United States
tax-free," Arias said in
a statement.
China is Costa Rica's
second-biggest trading
partner, behind the
U.S., with us$1 billion
in sales to the Asian
powerhouse and us$618
million in imports last
year.
Arias is expected to
meet with Chinese
President Hu Jintao
during his weeklong
trip. The two men have
already agreed to
explore the possibility
of a free trade
agreement between the
two nations.
China and Taiwan split
amid civil war in 1949.
China continues to claim
sovereignty over Taiwan,
and opposes anything
that appears to back the
island's separate status
from mainland _
including formal
diplomatic ties with
other countries. |
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