SAN JOSE, April 12 (Xinhua) -- China, a specially invited country to participate in this year's Costa Rican International Art Festival scheduled for April 11-20, opened its display counter here Saturday.

    China's participation will boost the relations between the two countries, Costa Rican Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Maria Elena Carballo told Xinhua.

    She said the Costa Rican people still do not know much about the Chinese culture. "We think that the development of cultural relations between the two countries will be the best way to let people understand each other."

    Her remarks were echoed by Wang Xiaoyuan, China's ambassador to this Central American country.

    "It is good to share the Chinese culture with the Costa Rican people and to keep deepening the friendly relations between our two countries," he said.

    The Costa Rican International Art Festival 2008, to be held in three cities of San Jose, Alajuela and Puntarenas, feature such activities as drama, dance, concert and handicraft exhibitions offered by artists from some 20 countries.

    It is China's first time to attend the event, during which over60 Chinese artists would present the charm of Beijing Opera and other traditional folk art forms to the Costa Rican people and visitors from around the world.