China-Costa Rica ties like 'growing elephant-ear tree': Xi   

The ties between China and Costa Rica are "like a growing elephant-ear tree of the Americas," Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday, using the eye-catching local plant to depict the friendly relations between the two geographically far-apart countries. [Special coverage]

In a meeting with his Costa Rican counterpart Luis Guillermo Solis, Xi said that China is ready to work with Costa Rica in an effort to make the root of political mutual trust deeper, foster the bulk of mutually beneficial cooperation stronger and nurture the leaves of people-to-people communication blossoming, "thus making the whole tree bear good fruits."

During his visit to Brazil, Xi also arranged a flurry of bilateral meetings, including the one with the leader of the central American country, which he visited last year.

Xi stressed the two sides should maintain high-level exchanges and strengthen communications between governments, legislatures and political parties.

The two countries should "continue to render mutual support on major issues concerning the other's core interests and enhance communication and coordination on such major global and regional issues as climate change and sustainable growth," he added.

On economic cooperation, Xi said the two countries could make good use of the China-Costa Rica free-trade agreement, improve the bilateral trading mix and strengthen cooperation on infrastructure, agriculture, science and technology and clean energy.

"China is willing to import more commodities from Costa Rica," he added.

He also encouraged the two sides to increase cooperation and exchanges in cultural area and among localities and young people.

In the meantime, Xi thanked Costa Rica, which is holding the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), for its endeavor to promote China-Latin America cooperation as a whole, in particular for its preparatory work for the China-Latin American leaders' meeting, due to be held in Brasilia Thursday.

Noting that both Costa Rica and China love peace and pursue progress, Solis said Costa Rica appreciated China's support and assistance for the country's economic development and the improvement of people' s livelihood.

Costa Rica is ready to strengthen political exchange, expand economic and trade cooperation and promote people-to-people exchanges with China, he said, adding that his country hopes to build a "Great Wall" of solidarity and cooperation between the two countries.

In addition, he said Costa Rica welcomes Chinese participation in its infrastructure construction.

On regional and global issues, Costa Rica is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China, support and actively participate in Latin America-China cooperation for promoting the formation of a fairer and more rational international order and safeguarding the interests of rights and interests of developing countries.

Xi arrived in the Brazilian capital Tuesday after attending the Sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza, a coastal city of Brazil.