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Taiwan can be coffee gateway to China, says Costa Rican president

Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco said Tuesday that Central American coffee could be sold in the vast mainland China market using Taiwan as a gateway.

Pacheco, who was visiting Santo Domingo for the inauguration of Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez Reyna, made the remarks while meeting with Republic of China Premier Yu Shyi-kun.

Pacheco told Yu that all Central American and Caribbean countries are eager to sell their coffee in China, saying that if every person in China drinks a cup of coffee per day, it would represent a gigantic market.

The Costa Rican president said that coffee exports to the Chinese mainland could be a lucrative business that could help rev up the sluggish economies in the region.

To crack the mainland market, Pacheco said, Taiwan would be the best gateway, because from Taiwan, businessmen could get the latest in-depth information about the mainland.

Pacheco extended an invitation via Yu to all interested Taiwanese businessmen to visit Costa Rica for the coffee harvest festival that will be held in November.

Coffee, known as the "golden bean" in Costa Rica, is an industry that accounts for much of the Central American country's wealth.

Meanwhile, Pacheco promised Yu that Costa Rica will continue to support Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations and will speak up for Taiwan during the UN annual assembly to be held in New York in September.

Pacheco said it is his belief that despite China's military threat, Taiwan will be playing an important role in the international community sooner or later.

He added that in the face of growing military intimidation from Beijing, Taiwan must acquire sufficient military preparedness including enough weaponry systems for self-defense.

Yu attended Dominican Republic President Fernandez's inauguration Monday on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
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