Qiu Xiaoqi, China’s representative for Latin American affairs, is visiting Costa Rica this week to meet with President Rodrigo Chaves Robles and members of the Legislative Assembly.

Xiaoqi’s official visit runs from April 5 to 8. In addition to meeting with President Chaves, he is scheduled to hold talks with the president of the Congres, Rodrigo Arias-Sánchez, who also is the brother of former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Óscar Arias Sánchez.

According to Congress President Arias, the meetings were arranged at the request of Wang Xiaoyao, China’s ambassador to Costa Rica. The agenda includes discussions on bilateral relations, cooperation between the two nations, and other diplomatic matters.

This is Xiaoqi’s second visit to Costa Rica in the last three years. He previously visited in June 2022, when he met with President Chaves, Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco, and Congress President Arias.

Costa Rica reestablished diplomatic ties with China in June 2007 under the second presidential period of ex-president Óscar Arias Sánchez from 2006 to 2010, ending more than six decades of formal relations with Taiwan.

Xiaoqi's visit comes amid diplomatic actions involving the United States and several Costa Rican political figures. Last week, former President Óscar Arias confirmed that the U.S. government had revoked his visa.

Also recently, Congresswoman Vanessa Castro-Mora of the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) confirmed that her U.S. visa had been annulled, making her the third legislator to do so.

In early March, Congressman José Francisco Nicolás-Alvarado said his visa had also been canceled.

In February, lawmakers Johanna Obando and Cinthya Córdoba were similarly notified of visa revocations.

The diplomatic developments follow recent controversies. In December 2024, Costa Rica’s Public Ministry launched a criminal investigation into Chinese tech giant Huawei over alleged fraud.

Costa Rican authorities have also accused hackers, believed to be based in China, of infiltrating the country's telecommunications systems. The claims came after a cybersecurity assessment conducted by U.S. experts in collaboration with local officials.