  Yang Jiechi (3rd from left), Chinese 
 foreign minister, shakes hands with Costa Rican Minister of Foreign 
 Affairs Bruno Stagno Ugarte after signing the joint communique on 
 establishing diplomatic relations in Beijing June 1, 2007. 
 [Xinhua]
   | 
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias 
announced Wednesday that his country was establishing diplomatic relations with 
China, and the two countries announced on Thursday that they signed a joint 
communique on establishing diplomatic ties at ambassadorial level as of June 1. 
"It was the moment to take this decision," said Arias, speaking at the 
Presidential House with top members of his cabinet. "China is a reality that we 
can no longer ignore."
 
 
   Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, 
 pictured in 2006, announced Wednesday that his country was establishing 
 diplomatic relations with China. [AFP] | 
"For 
Costa Rica this is an act of foreign policy realism which promotes our links to 
Asia. It is my responsibility to recognize a global player as important as the 
People's Republic of China. With this decision we join 178 nations in the United 
Nations that have recognized the People's Republic of China," Arias said. 
He said his decision was based on the deep trade relationship between 
the two nations. Costa Rica exports more than US$1 billion of goods to China 
each year. 
The joint communique was signed by Chinese Foreign Minister 
Yang Jiechi and Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Stagno Ugarte in 
Beijing on June 1. 
The governments of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Costa 
Rica, in accordance with the interests and aspiration of the peoples of the two 
countries, agree to establish diplomatic ties at ambassadorial level beginning 
June 1, 2007, the communique says. 
"The Costa Rican government recognizes that there is only one China in the 
world and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole 
legitimate government representing the whole China. Taiwan is an inalienable 
part of the Chinese territory," it says. 
This leaves Taiwan with 24 allies, mostly small and poor nations, compared 
with more than 170 countries that recognise Beijing. 
"The establishment of diplomatic ties is in the interest of the two countries 
and people. It has paved the way for friendly and beneficial cooperation between 
the two sides," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular 
news conference in Beijing Thursday.
 
Jiang said Taiwan was the 
"sole obstacle" confronting those countries. "We hope the relevant countries can 
follow the trend of the times and make the right choice."
According to 
the communique, Chinese and Costa Rican governments agree to develop friendly 
cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and 
territorial integrity, mutual nonagression, non-interference in each other's 
internal affairs, equality and mutual benefits, and peaceful coexistence. 
Costa Rica is the 169th country that has diplomatic relations with China. It 
established "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan in 1941. 
Latin America, the South Pacific and Africa are the main diplomatic 
battlegrounds for Beijing and Taipei.
 But China's expanding political and economic strength has meant a 
steady increase in Taiwan's diplomatic isolation around the world.
In Taipei, officials earlier Wednesday said they were doing "everything 
within our power" to maintain diplomatic relations with Costa Rica. 
At the World Health Organisation's assembly in May, Costa Rica 
voted "no" on Taiwan's membership bid. 
Some 148 WHO member states rejected Taiwan's bid to join the body, while 17 
others -- mainly Taiwan's allies -- supported it. Two countries 
abstained.