Libya’s UN-backed Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed M’etig says the north African country seeks to develop its economy by joining the China-led Belt and Road Initiative.
“China is a country with great and important political and economic weight in the world,” said M’etig, stressing the importance of developing the Libyan-Chinese relations in various fields and working on the return of Chinese companies to Libya to complete the suspended projects.
The Belt and Road Initiative, which includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks linking Asia to Europe and Africa along the trade routes of the ancient Silk Road.
Wang Qimin, Charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy to Libya, reiterated that the return of Chinese companies to Libya is linked to improved security situation, noting that Beijing will encourage Chinese companies to return as soon as Libya regains stability.
M’etig makes it clear that Libya is willing to provide security guarantees.
