BEIJING - It is difficult to say when Chinese companies will return to Libya and resume operations, China's commerce ministry spokesman Shen Danyang said Thursday at a press conference.

"The two sides need to discuss further issues such as personnel safety, compensation and project payment, so it's too early to predict when Chinese companies will return to Libya," Shen said.

A work team, led by Wang Shenyang, director of the ministry's foreign investment and economic cooperation department, was sent to the African nation from February 4 to February 8.

The team, which also included representatives from companies that have business operations in Libya, was the first official work team sent by China after the Libyan civil war, Shen said.

The work team exchanged views with Libyan officials on the future operation of projects that Chinese companies had already undertaken before the civil war, as well as China's participation in Libya's post-war reconstruction.