Chinese President Hu Jintao has arrived in San Jose for a state visit to Costa Rica aimed at enhancing China's relations with the Central American nation.
Costa Rica is located on the Central American Isthmus, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the east and south.
Costa Rica has a total area of 51,100 square kilometers. Its capital city is San Jose, which is also the country's largest city.
The country has a population of 4.4 million, with combined white and Mestizo groups accounting for 95 percent of the population, and the rest being African and Amerindian.
Some 95 percent of the population in Costa Rica are Roman Catholics. The country's official language is Spanish.
Costa Rica had been inhabited by Indians before being administered as a Spanish province in 1564. It declared independence on Sept. 15, 1821 and became a republic on Aug. 30, 1848.
Costa Rica has rich natural resources, with its bauxite, iron ore and coal deposits estimated at 150 million tons, 400 million tons and 50 million tons respectively. A quarter of its territories is covered with forests, making it a popular destination for eco-tourists.
Costa Rica has a higher level of economic development among Central American countries. Tourism, foreign trade and the service industry are the backbones of its national economy.
Light industries and manufacturing are the country's pillar industries. Its major exports include textile, foodstuff, timber and chemicals.
Costa Rica is the world's second largest banana exporter, with bananas, pineapples and coffee forming the bulk of its farm produce.
The service industry is vital to Costa Rica's economy, with over 50 percent of the country's workforce employed in the service sector, producing over 60 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).
Costa Rica's flourishing tourism has been its major foreign currency earner. Its tourism revenue reached some 1.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2007.
The establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Costa Rica on June 1, 2007 paved the way for exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of fields between the two countries.
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez visited China in October 2007. During the visit, both sides inked a series of cooperation agreements.
Bilateral trade topped 2.87 billion dollars in 2007.
Source:Xinhua
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