BEIJING - The international maritime community should work together to help the world economy recover, a Chinese senior legislator said Monday.

Hua Jianmin, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said that China was ready to make joint efforts with the international community as he addressed the opening ceremony of the 40th Conference of the Comite Maritime International (CMI).

The impact of the international financial crisis has not been eliminated although the world economy is slowly recovering, Hua said.

He said that protectionism in some countries was limiting the vitality of international investment and trade.

Hua called on the international maritime community to strengthen confidence, enhance pragmatic cooperation, maintain a fair competitive environment through improvement of the rules and promote green development of the maritime business through scientific innovation.

As a large maritime country, China would push forward with reform and opening up, promote marketization and facilitation of trade and investment as well as regional and world economic integration, according to Hua.

He met with the CMI president Karl-Johan Gombrii ahead of the ceremony.

Hosted by the China Maritime Law Association, the 40th conference will conclude on October19 in Beijing and an add-on will be arranged in Shanghai on October20-22.

The CMI holds a conference every three-to-four years to address international maritime issues. It is the first time it is being held in China since the CMI was founded in 1897.