Costa Rica's government is reviewing its visa restrictions on Chinese citizens now that the two nations established diplomatic relations, an immigration official said on Wednesday.

 

"We will meet officials from the President's Office and the Foreign Ministry to hear new instructions," said Mario Zamora, a director of immigration.

 

He added that the change in diplomatic relations does not necessarily mean a change in visa requirements.

 

At present Zamora is the only person who can grant a visa to a Chinese citizen, as China is in the "restricted visa" category. Authorization can take three months.

 

China expects Costa Rica to move to a more flexible regime, with the intention of boosting trade and investment.

 

Costa Rica's Vice Minister of Public Security Ana Duran, told media that the Visa Commission, made up of Foreign Ministry and Public Security Ministry officials, are studying the visa issue.

 

Costa Rica established diplomatic relations with China on June 1, breaking off diplomatic ties with China's Taiwan.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2007)