SAN JOSE - Costa Rica has obtained authorization from China's top quality watchdog to export dairy product to China, the Ministry of Foreign Trade said Tuesday.

Anabel Gonzalez, the foreign trade minister, welcomed the authorization, saying it was the result of hard work on the part of several institutions striving to expand trade bonds with China.

"This is important news for the agricultural export sector, which has great opportunities in this market. Last year China imported more than $3.2 billion worth of dairy products," she said.

Costa Rica is allowed to export banana, bovine leather and beef to China. It is waiting for approval to export pork, poultry products, seafood, pineapples and melons.