SAN JOSE - Johnny Araya, mayor of San Jose in Costa Rica, on Thursday officially announced the start of construction of a Chinatown in the capital city.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Costa Rica Li Changhua, Costa Rican Ambassador to China Marco Vinicio Ruiz, officials from the local government as well as the Chinese residents in the country.

The Costa Rican authorities said the construction of the Chinatown will last 10 months.

The chinese ambassador spoke highly of the construction of the Chinatown, saying that it was a historical moment in the relations between China and Costa Rica as the two sides will mark the 5th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

Mayor Araya said with the construction of the Chinatown, San Jose will will join other cities which have Chinatowns such as San Francisco in the United States, Vancouver in Canada, among others.