China-aided water supply project delivered to Costa Rica

The handover ceremony of the China-aided water supply project to Costa Rica was held in the city of Cañas on March 24.

Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rica Tang Heng, Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, Costa Rica's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Adriana Bolaños Argueta, the president of Cañas water supply company, and Cañas Mayor Luis Fernando Mendoza Jiménez attended the ceremony. 

Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rica Tang Heng and Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada inaugurate Cañas water supply project.

Tang and Bolaños signed the handover certificate at the ceremony. 

Tang expressed congratulations on the project's completion and thanked the relevant departments and the project teams of both sides for overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to create a complete large-scale water supply system for Costa Ricans.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Costa Rica 15 years ago, the Chinese government has provided different kinds of unconditional assistance within its capability to Costa Rica in accordance with its needs for economic and social development, Tang said. He said the assistance has been welcomed and affirmed by all sectors of society and played a positive role in Costa Rica's economic development and improvement of people's lives.

The water supply project will "irrigate" the "tree" of friendship between the two countries, he said, adding that China is willing to expand cooperation and to promote the two sides' strategic partnership to a new level.

Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rica Tang Heng accompany Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada and his wife to visit the water supply plant.

Alvarado described the long-standing impact of water shortages on local production and life. The president said the water supply project, which is another concrete result of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, will play a critical role in economic and social development and improvement in quality of life. It's an eternal mark left by China in the region, further consolidating the solid friendship between the two peoples.

On behalf the government and people of Costa Rica, Alvarado expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their assistance.

Mendoza, the mayor of Cañas, said the project will ease the problem of water shortages and is expected to be a turning point in the development of the city.

The president of Cañas water supply company said this is the most technologically advanced water supply plant in Costa Rica, and it will benefit more than 30,000 residents in and around Cañas and inject new momentum into the local economic recovery.

Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rica Tang Heng and Costa Rica's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Adriana Bolaños Argueta sign the handover certificate of Cañas water supply project at the ceremony.