10 March 2016

News Story: China dispels doubts over Australian port lease

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) - A Chinese company managing Darwin Port in Australia would respect market rules, international norms and domestic laws to bring benefits to both countries, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Wednesday in Beijing.

Spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks when responding to the results of an SMS poll which indicated almost 90 percent of Australians believe the Chinese company managing the Darwin port would pose at least "some risk" to Australia.

The secret poll, conducted by the U.S. State Department, revealed that 43 percent of respondents felt there was "a lot of risk" in leasing the Port of Darwin to Chinese firm Landbridge Group, while 46 percent of respondents said there was "some risk". Eleven percent of respondents deemed the deal "no risk" to Australia.

Hong said China-Australia economic cooperation shows that China's development brings important opportunities to Australia, and China is willing to have more mutually beneficial cooperation with Australia to realize common development.

Read the full story at Xinhua