On November 3, 2020, Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rica Tang Heng attended the handover ceremony of Beijing’s donation of anti-epidemic supplies to the San Hose, the capital of Costa Rica. San Jose Mayor Johnny Araya, Vice Mayor Paula Vargas, President of the City Council Alexander Cano, and Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the city government Villalobos etc. also attended the ceremony.

In his speech, Ambassador Tang Heng pointed out that China would never forget the support given by Costa Rica in the most demanding stage of China’s fight against COVID-19. The central government and several local governments of China, Chinese civil society groups, and overseas Chinese in Costa Rica also gave a helping hand to Costa Rica in its fight against the epidemic. San Jose and Beijing are the first pair of sister cities since China and Costa Rica established diplomatic ties. The donation of anti-epidemic supplies from Beijing illustrates yet again the profound friendship between the people of the two cities. China will continue to implement the consensus reached by the state heads of the two countries in their telephone conversation and provide assistance to Costa Rica within its capabilities in the spirit of building a global community of health for all.

On behalf of the San Jose city government and the people of the city, Mayor Johnny Araya thanked Beijing for its generous assistance. He said that since the outbreak of the epidemic, Costa Rica had received substantial donations from the Chinese governments at all levels, Chinese civil society groups and overseas Chinese in Costa Rica. Beijing provided the badly needed assistance when Costa Rica was facing severe epidemic across the country and under increasing pressure in epidemic prevention and control in its capital. The donation would effectively mitigate the shortage of protective supplies and better protect frontline health professionals and municipal staffs.