Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) hosts a welcoming ceremony for his Costa Rican counterpart Oscar Arias Sanchez prior to their meeting in Beijing on Oct. 24, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Costa Rican counterpart Oscar Arias Sanchez on Wednesday agreed to develop a lasting, steady, healthy and deep bilateral relationship of friendship and cooperation.

    The two presidents reached "broad consensus" on developing such a relationship during their hour-long talk at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

    Hu spoke highly of Arias's "important contribution" to the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Costa Rica, which took place on June 1 this year, saying the establishment of such ties had "opened a new chapter for bilateral relations".

    Hu expressed his appreciation for Costa Rica's adherence to the one-China policy.

    He proposed four aspects of measures to strengthen China-Costa Rica friendship, including strengthening friendly exchanges of high-level leaders, governmental departments, legislative bodies and political parties, expanding economic and trade cooperation, increasing exchanges of personnel on culture and education, and maintaining coordination in international and regional organizations.

    Hu promised that China is willing to import more products from Costa Rica and encourage Chinese enterprises to give priority to Costa Rica when considering places for investment, adding China also welcomes Costa Rican enterprises to develop market in China.

    Agreeing with Hu's proposals, Arias said it is important for Costa Rica to develop economic and trade cooperation with China. He expressed his thanks to the Chinese government for providing help and his hope that more Chinese enterprises will invest in Costa Rica.

    Arias stressed that Costa Rica adheres to the one-China policy and opposes Taiwan to "join in" the United Nations, saying the "referendum" on UN entry, pushed by the Taiwan authorities, is of great danger and doomed to fail.

    He said Costa Rica is proud to be the first country in Central America to establish diplomatic relations with China and facts have proved that it is a correct decision and will bring about important opportunities for the development of Costa Rica.

    After the talks, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements covering technologies, investment, culture, public health and agriculture.