Chinese PM committed to solving maritime disputes via dialogue

Beijing : Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said that China is committed to solving maritime disputes through dialogue and negotiation directly with the concerned countries in line with international laws and on the basis of respecting historical facts.

Prime Minister Keqiang made the remarks at a China-Greece maritime cooperation forum on Monday.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also attended the forum.

Premiere Keqiang said as a state party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China strives to safeguard the principles of the convention, stick to the path of peaceful development and oppose any maritime hegemony.

“China will not impose its own will on others. Meanwhile, we will firmly safeguard China’s legitimate rights,” he said and added that Beijing is willing to maintain maritime peace and stability through continued cooperation with relevant countries.

He said the aim of the maritime cooperation forum is to work with Greece to forge ahead the harmonious development of maritime business and promote maritime cultural exchange.

On the project of the Piraeus port between China and Greece, Premiere Keqiang said it is a model of bilateral cooperation of equality and mutual benefits and is an affirmative vote of Chinese enterprise for Greece.

Greek parliament ratified last week the landmark agreement with China’s COSCO Shipping for the acquisition of a majority stake in the Piraeus Port Authority, the largest port in Greece.(ANI)