Beginning negotiations for the opening of a Chinese free trade zone in Costa Rica is one of the main goals that will accompany President Laura Chinchilla on her commercial mission during her visit to Asia. The tour will start next week to commemorate the fifth anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations with the second largest economy in the world.

The Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX), Anabel Gonzalez confirmed the story, but for now could not specify more about the subject. The plan is to make a proposal to begin a feasibility study. Another subject that the authorities will emphasizes is in explaining how Costa Rica can function as a platform to export assembled products with the TLC.

“We are an entry gate to the Central American market; we can assemble from here and be a spearhead. Of course this is just one of the topics that we will use in the Chinese market,” indicated Gonzalez. The minister said that the bond between the two countries favored China in strengthening its presence in Latin America.

For Gonzalez, China could make great contributions to the country’s renewable energy sources. Other projects have already been announced by the presidency, one of them is to seek for support for the construction of a highway to the Atlantic and funding for the implementation of plans in the railway field.

In terms of progress in the emission of phytosanitary certificates for export, the Minister of Agriculture, Gloria Abraham, said that she expects that the new visit to the Asian country will shorten the times to start exporting Costa Rican chicken, pork, seafood and dairy to China. Health care protocols for beef, bananas and leather have been already approved.

“We hope to have a ready answer in the upcoming days. We have sent all the information they have requested, they have not responded, but have warned us that since China is so big it will take time,” said Abraham.