China assures Germany of supporting Libya peace talks

BERLIN (AA) - China has pledged support for Libya peace efforts in a phone call between President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, her office said on Wednesday.

A statement by the German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Merkel and Xi had a phone call on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations, international issues and Libyan conflict.

“They discussed implementing the conclusions of the Berlin Conference on Libya held on January 19, 2020. President Xi has pledged his further support [for the process] ,” Seibert said.

Major world powers and regional actors agreed at the conference to support UN efforts for a lasting cease-fire and abide by the arms embargo on Libya.

Germany was seeking support from the UN Security Council members to adopt a legally binding resolution on the outcome of the conference.

Since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: warlord Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya, supported mainly by Egypt and the UAE, and the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, which enjoys the UN and international recognition.

Haftar promised last week to respect a cease-fire brokered by Turkey and Russia, but his militias launched various attacks, including an attack that targeted the Mitiga International Airport in the capital Tripoli on Wednesday.

Haftar’s military offensive against Libya’s internationally recognized government claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people since April last year.