The Legislative President of Costa Rica will meet with Chinese government authorities

Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

According to a report from the media outlet El Observador, in the context of the announcement regarding the revocation of visas by the United States for lawmakers, ICE officials, and former President Óscar Arias—due to their support for the People’s Republic of China in matters related to 5G technology in Costa Rica—Legislative President Rodrigo Arias will hold a meeting with Chinese authorities.

The meeting will take place in the Office of the Presidency of Congress on Monday, April 7, at 5:00 PM and will include the participation of the leaders of the six legislative caucuses. The meeting was requested by Wang Xiaoyao, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Costa Rica, who arranged the meeting with the Chinese government’s special representative for Latin American affairs, Qiu Xiaoqi.

Regarding this meeting, the leaders of the legislative factions stated that its purpose is to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, Qiu Xiaoqi will be in Costa Rica from April 5 to 8, during which he will meet with President Rodrigo Chaves, Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco, and legislators from the Costa Rican Congress. To facilitate the meeting with legislative leaders, Congress agreed to declare a recess during the plenary session on Monday, allowing Legislative President Rodrigo Arias and the caucus leaders to attend without affecting the quorum.

This meeting is seen as a consequence of recent controversies in the country, following an executive decree that prevented Chinese companies from participating in the bidding process for the development of the 5G network. This decision was based on Costa Rica’s adherence to the Budapest Convention on cybersecurity, of which China is not a member.

Due to this restriction, the Chinese company Huawei was excluded from the process of developing 5G technology in Costa Rica. As a result, lawmakers such as Cynthia Córdoba and Johana Córdoba criticized the decree, arguing that it went against free market principles. In response to these statements, the United States revoked their entry visas, as well as those of several ICE officials and the institution’s auditor.

Last but not least, in recent days, other lawmakers and officials have also had their U.S. entry visas revoked, including Francisco Nicolás (PLN), legislator Vanessa Castro (PUSC), and, as mentioned earlier, former President Óscar Arias.

Mai Source:

Rodrigo Arias y jefes de fracción se reunirán con alta autoridad de China en la Asamblea Legislativa – El Observador

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