Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and Costa Rican President Oscar Arias vowed Tuesday to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Hui said Arias had promoted the forging of diplomatic ties between the two nations and had worked with the Chinese leaders to reach a broad consensus on bilateral ties and cooperation.

China and Costa Rica have strengthened political, economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges since they established diplomatic relations nearly a year ago, the Chinese vice premier said.

The two countries have also enhanced coordination and close cooperation in international and regional affairs and bilateral ties have entered the process of fast, healthy and orderly development, he added.

Hui said as developing countries, strengthening cooperation is not only conducive to construction and development of the two nations, but also peace and development in Central America and the world at large.

China will continue to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two nations, to discuss new cooperation fields and means and to make efforts to realize lasting, stable and healthy development between the two nations.

Arias said establishing diplomatic ties with China was the right decision by the Costa Rican government and was consistent with interests of the two peoples.

Costa Rica is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China and further broaden communication and cooperation, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2008)