Foreign and Military Affairs

China urges Libya to protect Chinese

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-23 10:09

UNITED NATIONS - China on Tuesday urged Libya to take substantial measures to protect its compatriots and other foreign nationals in the unrest-hit north African country, and to facilitate their evacuation.

Li Baodong, permanent representative of the Chinese Mission to the UN, told reporters after a close-door Security Council meeting on Libya that China is "very concerned" about the current situation in Libya, and hopes the country "can restore social stability and political order as soon as possible."

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"I urge the Libyan government and all parties concerned to ensure life and property safety of Chinese and other foreign nationals in Libya, and call on all parties to enhance international cooperation and facilitate their evacuation," Li said.

Since the unrest erupted in Libya on February 16, people have been attacked and there has been vandalism, looting and arson, and Chinese firms had been attacked and Chinese nationals injured.

Latest reports said a construction site run by Huafeng Construction Co, Ltd. from China's Zhejiang Province was looted by a group of armed gangsters Sunday afternoon in the eastern city of Agedabia, and nearly 1,000 Chinese workers there were forced from their on site living quarters and had become homeless.

Li said Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have ordered all-out efforts to ensure life and property safety of Chinese nationals in Libya, and Chinese embassies and consulates are taking every possible measure to achieve the aim.

"We will closely follow the development of the situation, exert all efforts to protect our compatriots and organizations in Libya," the ambassador said.