China–Costa Rica relations
Costa Rica was the first Latin American state to change from recognising the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the legitimate government of China, to the People's Republic of China, supporting their One China policy. Recognition of the PRC In June 2007, Costa Rica, motivated by the belief that recognising China would lead to increased foreign investment and economic growth, ended diplomatic relations with Taiwan, in favour of recognising the PRC as the true government of China. Costa Rica was the first Latin American state to switch recognition, marking a "turning point" for China's involvement in the region. Military and policing In 2016, China donated two Harbin Y-12 aircraft to Costa Rica's unofficial air force, the Air Vigilance Service. A USD $25 million training facility for the Public Force of Costa Rica, the national police, was funded by China. In 2021, 100 motorcycles, and 2,000 helmets and Kevlar vests were delivered by the PRC to Costa Rica. Trade and investment In 2018, Costa Rica joined the Belt and Road Initiative, a Chinese global infrastructure project. In 2021, Costa Rican exports to China were worth US$308 million, and Chinese foreign direct investment was worth $600,000. A cooperation framework "action plan", in effect from 2016 to 2020, was signed by both countries. Chinese telecommunication company Huawei is the principal supplier to the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), accumulating a total of $266 million in contracts. Huawei was previously fined for non-compliance with contractual obligations to ICE by the Costa Rican government. Bilateral meetings In November 2008, the president of China, Hu Jintao, visited Costa Rica, and alongside president Óscar Arias announced the launch of free trade negotiations. In July 2014, Chinese president Xi Jinping met with Costa Rican president Luis Guillermo Solís in Brasília. In June 2022, Qiu Xiaoqi, the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs, visited Costa Rica. During Qiu's visit, he met with the president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, and other key Costa Rican government figures. References Costa Rica Bilateral relations of Costa Rica