China has said the US has “no right” to interfere in cautioning against an investment from COSCO Shipping Ports Limited (CSPL) in Hamburger Hafen Und Logistik’s (HHLA) Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT) at the Port of Hamburg.
Reported by Reuters, in a Beijing media briefing on 3 November, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters the deal is between China and Germany only.
“Pragmatic cooperation between China and Germany is a matter for the two sovereign countries, the United States should not attack it without reason and has no right to meddle and interfere,” Zhao said.
Last month the German government approved the acquisition of a minority stake of less than 24.9 per cent in HHLA’s CTT by CSPL.
The news comes following months of discussion in the German federal government with regards to the deal.
“We appreciate that a solution has been found in objective and constructive talks with the Federal Government,” said Angela Titzrath, Chairwoman of HHLA’s Executive Board.
“Our long-standing Chinese partner COSCO Shipping Ports Limited can acquire a minority share of less than 25 per cent in the operating company of CTT in Hamburg, subject to the conditions imposed by the Federal Government.
“We will negotiate a corresponding adjustment of the agreement with CSPL in the near future.”
Titzrath stressed that neither CTT, nor HHLA, nor the Port of Hamburg will be sold to China.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is reportedly due to head to Beijing on 4 November, including a meeting with President Xi Jinping.
