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Thursday December 6, 2012

Costa Rica gets world's newest Chinatown


Members of the Chinese community and officials of municipality of San Jose participate in the inauguration of Chinatown in San Jose, Costa Rica, 05 Dec 2012. - EPA Members of the Chinese community and officials of municipality of San Jose participate in the inauguration of Chinatown in San Jose, Costa Rica, 05 Dec 2012. - EPA

SAN JOSE: Costa Rica on Wednesday opened the world's newest Chinatown, thanks to a million-dollar donation from China.

The Central American nation's capital, San Jose, is the new home of the 650m area lined with shops decorated with symbols of Chinese culture.

Mayor Johnny Araya, one of the project's main backers, opened the area, which is crowned by a traditional Chinese arch, and also includes jewelry shops and Asian restaurants.

The Chinese government paid for half of the project's two-million-dollar price tag, according to its architect Mariano Urena.

Costa Rica renewed diplomatic ties with China in June 2007.

Subsequently, Beijing made a number of large donations including US$100mil for the new National Stadium which opened in March 2011. - AFP

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