Libyan Presidential Council’s Mohamed al-Menfi and China’s Xi Jinping meet on sidelines of first Arab-Chinese summit in Saudi Arabia; Details here

Mohamed Menfi, the head of the Libyan Presidency Council, met with Xi Jinping, the president of China, on Saturday in the Saudi Arabia’s capital to talk about Chinese firms’ return to the conflict-torn country.

According to a statement from Menfi's office, the return of Chinese businesses to Libya was a topic of discussion in the talks between the two parties.

According to the statement, Xi Jinping connected restoring peace and security to Libya by allowing the Chinese businesses to return.


Menfi stated that to proceed with having elections, terminate the transitional period, and achieve thorough national reconciliation; it is necessary to have China's help to achieve stability and security.

The Chinese president is presently in Saudi Arabia on an official visit, where he met with Saudi officials to discuss enhancing bilateral ties.
Xi Jinping also traveled to Riyadh for the inaugural GCC-China conference.

Since Muammar Gaddafi's overthrow in 2011 after 40 years in power, Libya, a country rich in oil, has remained in chaos.

FAQ

Who is Menfi?
Libyan diplomat and politician Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi is from Tobruk.
He was selected to lead the Libyan Presidential Council at the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum on 5 February 2021.

Who is Xi Jinping?
Since 2012, Xi Jinping has held the positions of the Chinese Communist Party's general secretary and chairman of the Central Military Commission, making him the country's top leader.

Is Libya wealthy or impoverished?
Over 95% of export earnings and 60% of GDP come from the petroleum industry, the primary source of money for the Libyan economy.
Due to its low population and oil revenues, Libya has one of Africa's highest nominal per capita GDPs.

What is the current state of affairs in Libya?
Libya's political position is still precarious, and the country's security situation is still dangerous and unpredictable. Uncertainty around the timing of Libya's postponed elections is likely to increase tensions throughout the nation, which could result in security incidents like inter-militia skirmishes and oil blockades.