In 2010, relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Costa Rica showed a momentum of faster development, with mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation deepening in all aspects.

Mutual political trust was further consolidated. In May, President Hu Jintao sent a congratulatory message to the newly-elected Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla Miranda. In October, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi sent a message to his Costa Rican counterpart René Castro Salazar, extending condolences over the mudslide and flooding in Costa Rica. The Chinese government provided emergency assistance of US$60,000 in cash to the Costa Rican government. In April, after the devastating earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai Province, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sánchez called the Chinese Ambassador in Costa Rica to express his sympathy and condolences. The Foreign Ministry of Costa Rica issued a statement to express condolences to the Chinese government and people. In August, President Chinchilla sent a message of condolences to President Hu on the massive mudslide in Zhouqu, Gansu Province.

The two countries had frequent and important exchanges of visits. In August, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi paid a visit to Costa Rica, during which he met with President Chinchilla and had talks with Foreign Minister Castro. In May, as Special Envoy of the Chinese government, Minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission Li Bin attended the power transfer ceremony of the President of Costa Rica. In October, Minister of Foreign Affairs René Castro Salazar, Minister of Foreign Trade Anabel Gonzalez, Minister of Public Works and Transportation Francisco Jiménez, Minister of Culture Manuel Obregón, and President of the Commission of International Relations and External Trade of the Legislature Assembly Francisco Chacón visited China and attended activities marking Costa Rica's National Pavilion Day at the Shanghai World Expo.

Economic cooperation and trade between the two countries developed rapidly. China was Costa Rica's second largest trading partner. In April, the two countries officially signed the China-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement. The project of building a national stadium in Costa Rica with Chinese assistance made smooth progress.

The two countries enjoyed close exchanges in culture, science, technology and other fields. China's hybrid rice was successfully planted in Costa Rica on a trial basis. Smooth progress was made in cooperation on bio-diversity between the two countries.