by Dang Qi and Josue Alfaro
SAN JOSE, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China has been one of the most important foreign policy decisions for Costa Rica, said former Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla.
As the two countries prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Chinchilla told Xinhua that her country has seen "multiple benefits" ever since, especially in trade, foreign investment and international cooperation.
"We have received much investment from China in Costa Rica," she said.
Chinchilla also expressed her belief that Costa Rica should seize the opportunity to fully participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, which was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.
The initiative, comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, not only aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes, but is also an initiative for international cooperation in essence, open to all like-minded countries and regions.
"Many things impressed me, but I want to mention the kindness and care shown to us by the Chinese people and the long-term vision in the decisions of the Chinese authorities and the impressive infrastructure China has developed in all areas," said Chinchilla.
Before serving as president from 2010 to 2014, Chinchilla was a political analyst at the University of Costa Rica and Georgetown University.
She also worked as minister of public security from 1996 to 1998 and served in the National Assembly as a deputy for the province of San Jose from 2002 to 2006.
Chinchilla also hailed Latin America's current relations with China, and hailed the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as a crucial platform for those ties.
"CELAC has become an important dialogue platform in our region," she explained.
"We discuss how to step up projects of joint cooperation ... such as promoting sustainable development and boosting clean energy, where China has shown important leadership at the international level," she said.
