(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-24 10:18

London -- China and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) signed Friday a memorandum on IMO technical cooperation to enhance the cooperative ties in the maritime field between the two sides.

Under the memorandum, the two sides are to provide assistance in capacity-building and talent training to developing countries through workshops and training courses within the framework of the IMO Technical Cooperation Program.

The program is designed to help developing countries improve their ability to comply with international rules and standards relating to maritime safety and the prevention and control of maritime pollution, giving priority to technical assistance programs that focus on human resources development and institutional capacity-building.

The China-IMO memorandum was signed by Xu Zuyuan, Chinese Deputy Communications Minister, and Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, IMO Secretary-General. Both are attending the ongoing 25th regular session of the Assembly of the IMO in London.

On Friday, China was elected to the 40-member decision-making council of the 167-member organization.