A team of Chinese engineers and architects is now in Costa Rica to work on a proposal for a $60 million national stadium, one of China's most generous gifts since the two countries forged diplomatic ties last year.

The 11 Chinese professionals, who arrived late last week and plan to stay until April 30, will meet with Costa Rican authorities, visit notable architectural works and study the site of the current national stadium in La Sabana, a park on the western edge of San José.

The old structure will be largely razed to make way for the new stadium, which will hold 45,000 people and feature a soccer field, a track, greater office space and parking and a court for food and souvenirs.

The team – seven engineers, two architects, a professor and a translator – will submit a report to Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaoyuan with recommendations for building plans.

China's government will then choose a Chinese firm to build the stadium, expected to open in 2010.

It will dwarf Costa Rica's largest existing arena, the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibás, north of San José, which holds 21,700 people. The current National Stadium seats 18,000.