War for Libyan oil started! Official at Libyan rebel oil firm admits it could have discommodity over working with countries that did not back the Nato led rebel campaign against Gaddafi regime in Libya.

China is seeking to reaffirm its ties with Libya as it reshapes its plans in a future without Gaddafi, calling for its oil investments to be protected after rebels suggested they might leave out countries that had not supported them against Muammar Gaddafi.

“China’s investment in Libya, especially its oil investment, is one aspect of mutual economic co-operation … and this co-operation is in the mutual interest of both the people of China and Libya,” a chinese commerce ministry official stated reporters on Tuesday.

Wen Zhongliang, deputy head of the chinese ministry’s trade department, added: ” After a return to stability in Libya we hope, that Libya will maintain the protection of the interests and rights of Chinese investors and we hope to continue investment and economic co-operation.”

Libya : War for power stops, war for Libya oil starts

Zhongliang’s remarks came after an official at the Libyan rebel oil firm Agoco told Reuters: “We don’t have a problem with companies from western countries like the Italians, French and UK. But we may have some political issues with Russia, China and Brazil, who haven’t showed support for our fight against Gaddafi and his tyranny”

China abstained in the UN security council vote that authorised the Nato campaign, but then condemned the strikes and expressed “deep concern” about them.

Despite that China has courted Libyan rebels, and praised the National Transitional Council (NTC) as a major political force in Libya and important dialogue partner. On Monday, a spokesman for the foreign ministry reported China respected “the choice of the Libyan people” and hoped for a return to stability in Libya, as prices fall in several markets Monday, even as petroleum industry experts and political analysts say it could take more than a year for Libya to pump oil at pre-war levels.

China : Gaddafi era deals to be honoured in the future

Last week, China’s state news agency, Xinhua, reported a rebel leader had urged Chinese enterprises to return. Abdel Hafiz Ghoga, vice-president of the NTC, informed it would honour all deals and contracts agreed with Gaddafi’s government. Around 3% of China’s crude oil imports came from Libya last year. According to Chinese media, around 75 companies were operating in Libya before the war, with 36,000 staff – who had to be evacuated in the largest such operation undertaken by China.

Yin Gang, an expert on the North Africa-Middle East region at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, predicted that Beijing government could develop stronger ties with a Libya under new leadership.

“After the civil war, which has destroyed a lot of infrastructure, Libya will face the task of reconstruction. China will make use of its advantages and competitiveness to get involved,” the expert predicted.

China : Western countries responsible for the mess in Libya

The expert added: “China’s share in Libya’s natural resources was less than 1 percent, almost negligible, and I don’t think it will increase in the future. The most important relationship between these two countries is not about oil at all, but labour and technology export.” ”It is obvious which countries will profit mostly from oil business in the new set-up of Libya.

Several Chinese newspapers focused on the difficulties of reconstructing the country. China’s official Global Times newspaper warned in a commentary: “The west has to take responsibility for clearing up its mess in Libya.” China Youth Daily said Europe had not put forward an effective plan for a transition to democracy in Libya and would find it hard to help given the poor economic situation in war-weary Libya.

The Libyan rebel flag flies at the country’s embassy in Beijing. The official China Daily noted that the Libyan embassy in Beijing had already replaced the old flag with the flag used by the Libyan rebel flag.

 

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