China National Coal Group Corp and China Shipping (Group) Company will cooperate on coal transportation and the establishment of coal transfer centres, the China Securities Journal reported on Thursday.

    The newspaper also said the two companies would form a joint venture in the future.

    Chronic transportation bottlenecks have constrained the flow of coal from China's resource-rich north to the south, partly contributing to a serious power shortage.

    China Shipping, one of China's largest shipping groups, is the parent of China Shipping Development Co and China Shipping Container Lines Co.

    China Coal Energy Co is the listed arm of China National Coal Group Corp, the country's No. 2 coal producer.