China Enters Stage of Global Efforts to Help Settle Libyan Crisis

China is ready to undertake joint actions with the regional partners to find ways for political settlement of the crisis in Libya, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — According to the minister, the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Libya must be respected and upheld, and the country’s fate should be determined by the will of its people through dialogue and negotiations.

"China is ready to continue promoting political settlement in Libya together with the regional partners," Wang said after talks with his Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui, as quoted in the statement released by the ministry.

"We also need to increase international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, as Libya became a potential target for the terrorists after the counterterrorism actions in Iraq and Syria grew more active," Wang said.

Libya has been locked in turmoil since the 2011, when an eight-month civil war resulted in the overthrow of country’s longtime leader, Muammar Gaddafi. The eastern part of the country is governed by its parliament, with headquarters in the city of Tobruk, backed by the Libyan National Army headed by Gen. Khalifa Haftar. The UN-backed Government of National Accord operates in the country's west and is headquartered in Tripoli.

The internal conflict led to the rise of several militant and terrorist groups in the country, that have established control over different parts of Libya.