China is closely working with southern European countries in maritime development, part of the country's endeavor to develop the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, said an oceanic official on Sunday.

Over the past year, China and Greece reached nearly 30 cooperative agreements, paving the way for more collaboration between China and other southern European countries, said Wang Hong, head of State Oceanic Administration, on the sidelines of the ongoing International Oceanic Week in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province.

China and Greece have closely worked on maritime infrastructure building, technology, transportation, ship-building, tourism and culture, Wang said, adding the two sides complement each other on maritime development.

He said the cooperation between the two is the European extension of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.

China has also enhanced overall maritime cooperation with Italy, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Malta, he said, adding these southern European countries are strengthening port construction, industrial parks nearby, transportation, tourism and fishery.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2015)