China's Foreign Ministry said the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese company holding the lease for a major Australian port should be fully protected.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks on Wednesday when asked to comment on reports that the government in Canberra plans to remove Darwin Port from Chinese ownership.?

"China would like to reiterate that the Chinese company acquired the lease of Darwin Port through market channels, and its legitimate rights and interests should be fully protected," Guo said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.