The first Costa Rican Embassy in Beijing, China, is up and running, embodying a historical link formed when these countries recently established diplomatic relations.

The embassy has been open since July 5, according to a statement released yesterday by the Foreign Ministry.

Costa Rica established diplomatic relations with China June 1, and Foreign Ministry Cabinet Head Antonio Alarcón was then sent to Beijing to establish the embassy. He accomplished the task of finding a building and setting up the office in two weeks, the statement said. The diplomatic staff for this embassy is being selected by Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno.

The building will also house the Costa Rican Consulate and an office of the Foreign Trade Ministry (COMEX) in an effort to increase trade with China, which is now the second biggest importer of Costa Rican products, the statement said.

In the coming months, a delegation of high-level Chinese officials plans to visit Costa Rica, and a potential free-trade agreement between the two countries is among topics they plan to discuss. President Oscar Arias is also scheduling a visit to Beijing.

Stagno said he hopes Costa Rica's embassy in Beijing will serve as a launching point for expanded ties around Asia.

“This decision is one of the efforts we're making as a government and as a foreign ministry to open embassies in Singapore and India and to achieve Costa Rica's incorporation in the Asian Pacific Forum,” Stagno said.

-Tico Times