The Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister inaugurated the first China-Libya Economic Forum in Peking last Friday 31 May, under the slogan “Libya, China Partners in Development and Reconstruction” in the presence of 84 Chinese companies operating in various fields.
Directors of government executive agencies, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Commercial Affairs Suhail Abu Shiha, Director General of the National Council for Economic and Social Development, the Libyan Embassy in China, and Director of the Asia Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended on the Libyan side.
23,000 Chinese workers in Libya currently
In his speech, Aldabaiba stressed China’s role in the reconstruction witnessed by Libya, and the need to focus on resuming stalled projects, contracting them with Chinese companies, and considering them the first stage of joint cooperation. He pointed out that there are more than 23,000 Chinese workers in Libya currently, after their number was only 5,000 during the past years.
Abu Shiha also gave a presentation in which he explained the volume of trade exchanged between the two countries, the economic and investment opportunities available to leading companies, as well as the growth indicators witnessed by Libya, according to the reports of the International Monetary Fund in recent years.
The directors of the executive agencies also presented the targeted development projects within the government’s plan for the ‘‘Return of Life’’, and a technical and financial analysis of the projects contracted with Chinese companies, and implementation priorities.
On the other hand, several Chinese companies presented technical presentations showing their fields of work, and similar projects in several countries around the world.
Need to continue communications
One of the most important recommendations of the forum was the need to continue communication between Libya and China, politically and technically, to address the difficulties and problems facing the full return of Chinese companies, and to agree to hold the second forum in the capital Tripoli next October.
Return of Chinese companies, return of the Embassy to Tripoli
During his political meetings with Chinese officials, Aldabaiba discussed the return of Chinese companies to work in Libya, overcoming the difficulties they face, the return of the Chinese embassy to work in Tripoli, and activating the commercial department to assume the role of coordination and communication with the relevant Libyan ministries.
