BEIJING, Jan 27 (Reuters) – China and Denmark have renewed an agreement on cooperating in green maritime technology and shipbuilding, China’s industry ministry said on Tuesday, reaffirming a long-term partnership in the sector.

The renewal comes amid heightened tensions between Denmark and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he wants to control Denmark’s semi-autonomous island of Greenland to protect the Arctic region from security threats, including China.

China is willing to conduct joint research and development with Denmark on low-carbon and zero-carbon fuel-powered ship technologies and explore cooperation in the new energy vehicle sector, Chinese Industry Minister Li Lecheng told Danish Business and Industry Minister Morten Bodskov, according to a readout of their meeting from the Chinese side.