COSCO, A.P. Moller discuss cooperation

COSCO, A.P. Moller discuss cooperation    The business leaders of China Ocean Shipping Co. and A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, two of the world’s largest shipping groups, have discussed potential cooperation between them.
   Last week (on Sept. 12), Captain Wei Jiafu, president and chief executive officer of the COSCO group, paid a visit to Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller, chairman of A.P. Moller-Maersk, at the Danish group’s head office in Copenhagen.
   “Captain Wei and chairman Moller then discussed potential chances of cooperation between COSCO and Maersk in a number of business aspects,” COSCO said in a statement.
   Wang Shijia, minister-counselor for commercial affairs of the Chinese embassy in Denmark, also joined the meeting.
   A.P. Moller-Maersk suggested that the meeting between Wei and Moller was only a courtesy visit, as Wei was attending a meeting of the Panama Canal Commission in Copenhagen with Tommy Thomsen, a senior executive of A.P. Moller-Maersk.
   “We have a good working relationship with COSCO, which recently resulted in the Qingdao container terminal investment,” said Jette Clausen, spokesman for A.P. Moller-Maersk.
   A.P. Moller-Maersk could not comment on additional areas of potential cooperation with COSCO.