San Jose, Feb 21 (IANS/EFE): Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla and her Mexican counterpart, Enrique Pena Nieto, agreed to bolster bilateral relations, emphasizing trade, cooperation and investment, while maintaining a regional focus.

Pena Nieto met with Chinchilla for nearly an hour Tuesday at the Costa Rican Museum of Art in San Jose.

"We have reviewed the achievements in relations between the two countries, a relationship that has always been characterized by deep friendship and common values that we both promote, such as democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights," Chinchilla told reporters.

The presidents, however, did not take questions from the media following their meeting.

The bilateral trade and investment agenda is "marked by many successes", including the 1994 free trade agreement, which has boosted trade 12 percent annually to $3.6 billion last year, Chinchilla said.

Costa Rica is Mexico's top trade partner in Central America, while Mexico is the No. 3 source of foreign direct investment in the Central American nation, Pena Nieto said.