China hoping to play active role in Libya's future

(Xinhua)

08:16, August 25, 2011

CHINA has urged a "stable transition of power" in Libya and said it hopes to further promote economic and trade cooperation with the country.

China "respects the choice of the Libyan people and hopes for a stable transition of power," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said yesterday.

"We have always attached significance to the important role of the National Transitional Council in solving Libya's problems, and maintain contact with it," Ma said, referring to the main Libyan rebel group. 

"We hope that the future new government will adopt effective measures, draw together the forces of different factions, and restore social order as quickly as possible," said Ma.

Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, told a news conference in Beijing: "We hope to play an active role in rebuilding Libya in the future, together with the international community." 

The United Nations should now lead post-war efforts in Libya, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a phone call on Tuesday, adding that Beijing was willing to help rebuild the north African country.

Yang suggested China wants bodies such as the UN, rather than Western governments alone, to coordinate international involvement in post-war Libya.

"The United Nations should play a leading role in post-war arrangements for Libya, and China encourages the UN to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the African Union and Arab League," Yang said.

China is "willing to work alongside the United Nations to promote a rapid stabilisation in Libya and a swift course towards reconciliation and reconstruction," said Yang.

On Tuesday, China urged Libya to protect Chinese investments and said their oil trade benefited both countries, after a Libyan rebel warned that Chinese oil companies could lose out after the ousting of Gadhafi because China did not offer enough support to the rebels. 

China has yet to formally recognise the rebel forces as Libya's new leaders. 

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