São Tomé e Príncipe Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and the Environment Osvaldo D’Abreu has said representatives of his country and China are discussing building a new port in the north of the island of São Tomé, STP-Press reports.

The São Tomé e Príncipe state-run news agency quotes Mr D’Abreu as saying negotiations about putting a port in the town of Fernão Dias are at an advanced stage.

Mr D’Abreu said representatives of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were taking part in the talks.

The minister said the new port would serve as the alternative to the present facility.

He said the new government in São Tomé e Príncipe had dropped plans for a more expensive deep-water port.

STP-Press says Mr D’Abreu was speaking during a visit to the facilities of state-run port operator Empresa Nacional de Administração dos Portos.