BEIJING - China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Friday it supports a Chinese company's bid to buy shares in the Portuguese power giant Energias de Portugal (EDP).

The government supports Chinese companies' participation in the Portuguese government's privatization of its state-owned assets and their cooperation with Portugal in the electricity area, MOC spokesman Shen Danyang said in a statement.

In a statement last month, EDP said it had reached an agreement for a possible partnership with China Power International Holding Ltd, which had expressed interest in buying its shares.

Shen said China hopes Portuguese authorities decide bidding results in line with market principles in a transparent, fair and independent manner and make sure normal business deals are not affected by external factors. He did not specify the company's name.

China has noticed some foreign media reports and foreign government actions regarding a Chinese company's plan to purchase EDP shares, he said, without elaborating.

"As is known to all, it is a business act for Chinese firms to take part in foreign bids," he noted.

Cooperation between Chinese and Portuguese firms in the power sector benefits both sides and will eventually boost Sino-Portuguese economic ties, Shen added.

EDP is a major electricity operator in Europe, and Portugal's leading business group, in which the Portuguese state holds minority shares.