SAN JOSE - China-Costa Rica relations have developed rapidly and born rich fruit since the two countries established diplomatic ties six years ago, Chinese ambassador Song Yanbin said in San Jose, Costa Rica.

One of the reasons for the rapid development was top leaders of the two countries attached great importance to the relations, Song said ahead of a state visit to Costa Rica by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The ambassador said the exchange of high-level visits had been more frequent in recent years.

Since the two countries established diplomatic ties in June 2007, two Costa Rican presidents -- former President Oscar Arias and President Laura Chinchilla -- visited China in October 2007 and August 2012, respectively.

Former Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Costa Rica in November 2008.

Song said these visits, and Xi's upcoming trip, helped deepen mutual understanding between the governments and the peoples of the two countries and forged a solid foundation for promoting economic and trade cooperation based on equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect.

Thanks to the sound political ties between the two countries, bilateral cooperation in the economic and trade field had been growing rapidly and born rich fruit, Song said.

He said China had become Costa Rica's second largest trading partner, behind the United States, while Costa Rica had become China's ninth largest trading partner in Latin America.

A free trade agreement between China and Costa Rica that came into effect on August 1, 2011, was the 10th such accord China has signed. Costa Rica, meanwhile, became the third Latin American country to sign such an agreement with China, Song said.

The ambassador said exchanges and cooperation in such fields as culture, science and technology, education and human resources had also been deepening. The two countries exchanged cultural troupes frequently and cooperated in hybrid rice planting, biological diversification and earthquake forecasting.

The national stadium in San Jose, built with the help of China, was completed in March 2011.

Song said the stadium was the most modern sports complex in Central America and a symbol of friendship between the two peoples.

The ambassador was confident about the future of the China-Costa Rica relationship.

The two countries would enjoy a brighter future for their win-win cooperation, given the joint efforts committed by both sides to exploit new ways and areas of cooperation, he said.