President Oscar Arias traveled to China Saturday for a visit aimed at promoting Costa Rican exports and enticing the Chinese to invest here in projects including an oil refinery, according to the daily La Nación.

The President said such a refinery could meet the country's oil needs and supply oil to other Central American nations. During his visit to China, which is scheduled to include stops in Pekín, Xi'an and Shanghai, he plans to meet with representatives of the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation.

Arias also mentioned the possibility of seeking a free-trade agreement with China to expand the market for Costa Rican goods to this growing Asian giant.

“One of my government's objectives is to grow our exports at a rate of 18% per year. And this is a realistic goal taking into account the potential of the Chinese market for Costa Rican products,” he said, according to a statement from Casa Presidencial. “For Chinese companies, Costa Rica is a very attractive market, not just because of the level of education of our work force, but also because of the potential to export to the United States tax-free.”

Arias' visit comes four months after China and Costa Rica established diplomatic relations (TT, June 8). He is accompanied by Presidency Minister Rodrigo Arias, Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno, Foreign Trade Minister Marco Vinicio Ruiz, Vice-Minister of the Presidency José Torres, Casa Presidencial Protocol Director Ana María Herrera and his personal assistant María Angel Solera.

-Tico Times