Shipping and the commercialisation of Limassol port were among the issues discussed at a meeting between Cypriot Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Marios Demetriades and his Chinese counterpart Yang Chuantang.

In statements he made on the sidelines of Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades` visit to Beijing, whom Demetriades is accompanying, he said that a meeting he had with Chinese Transport Minister was “very interesting and lasted over an hour,” an official press release says.

“We discussed shipping a matter of interest to both sides, as well as other issues such as the commercialisation of Limassol port,”, he noted.

Demetriades said that he explained the process underway to his Chinese counterpart and that a huge Chinese company, Cosco has expressed an interest.

It seems, he pointed out, that their interest is genuine, adding but “we shall have off course to be patient until the end of March to find out who will succeed in the tender process.”

What was said at the end of the meeting, Demetriades said was that a window of communication between the two ministries must remain open because there are many areas in which we can cooperate.

On our part, he added, we will continue to be in touch with Chinese officials.