LIMA, April 4 (Reuters) - A resolution to end a dispute

between Peru and China's Cosco Shipping could come as soon as

this week to ensure a megaport will start operations as planned

by the end of the year, Peru's Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen

said on Thursday.

The Peruvian port authority said in March it hoped to annul

its decision granting exclusivity of the port's operations to

Cosco, citing an "administrative error."

Cosco, which is investing $1.3 billion in the first

stage of the terminal, has said the push affects the "security

and legal stability of investments."

On Thursday, Adrianzen said in an interview with local

radio station RPP: "I trust, though I don't want to get ahead of

myself, that this week or next week everything should be

resolved in a positive way and all these gray clouds will be

cleared."

The construction of the port at Chancay, some 46 miles

(74 km) north of Lima, is at least 70% complete, according to

Cosco, which hopes to inaugurate it during the Asia-Pacific

Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit at the end of the

year, with Chinese President Xi Jinping in attendance.

A total of $3.5 billion is set to be invested in the

port, which has drawn interest from Brazil as a gateway for

exports to Asia, but has raised concerns in the United States

and Europe, which are seeking to curb China's influence in Latin

America.

Adrianzen stated that the request to annul the firm's

exclusivity reflects "inefficient aspects" in some public

institutions that must be corrected.

"We are aware that this is generating an undesired

disturbance," he said. "I can guarantee we are convinced that

Chancay will be inaugurated in November under the foreseen

conditions," he added.

Cosco, which did not immediately respond to a request

for comment outside business hours in China, holds a 60% share

in the port, with the rest held by local polymetallic miner

Volcan, which is itself owned by Switzerland-based

Glencore ( GLCNF ).

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing

by Kylie Madry and Costas Pitas)