There is a great potential for bilateral economic cooperation as China has become Costa Rica's second biggest trading partner, he said. 

In the first half of 2010, bilateral trade grew 58 percent year-on-year while Costa Rica's exports to China increased 68.7 percent over the period.

The two nations signed a free trade pact in April, providing a positive and secure mechanism for expanding bilateral trade and investment so as to enhance the win-win cooperation, Li said.

Besides, people-to-people exchanges between the two nations have been on a rise during recent years, he added.

Li said the China now offers 50 scholarships every year for Costa Rican students and provides dozens of short-term training courses in technology, journalism, administrative management, among others.

China's Confucius Institute has opened a branch at the University of Costa Rica, which has become a platform for communication in culture and education between the two countries.

Bilateral cooperation in technology such as in biodiversity and hybrid rice have also proceeded smoothly, said the ambassador.

He said China-Costa Rica cooperation has great potential because the two economies complement each other.

Li suggested the two countries further cooperation in new energy, environmental protection and biotechnology, promote trade and investment, and create favorable conditions for cooperation between enterprises.

China and Costa Rica also need to broaden communication and cooperation in education, science and technology, culture and tourism, so they could jointly contribute to the construction of a harmonious world, he added.