China has called on Libya’s rival political actors to urgently resolve their differences and move toward national unity, warning that prolonged divisions continue to undermine governance and stability nearly 15 years after the country descended into conflict.
Speaking at the United Nations Security Council, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative Sun Lei urged political leaders in both western and eastern Libya to show genuine political will and quickly complete unresolved issues needed to pave the way for long-delayed national elections.
Sun acknowledged recent progress by the UN Support Mission in Libya in facilitating dialogue but stressed that the country’s deep-rooted political crisis remains far from resolved. He noted that the continued fragmentation of state institutions is constraining effective governance and slowing Libya’s path toward political unification.
The Chinese envoy also emphasized the need for strict implementation of existing Security Council resolutions, particularly those aimed at curbing the illicit trafficking and diversion of arms. He called for renewed international pressure to ensure the early withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces from Libyan territory, describing their presence as a major obstacle to lasting peace.
Beyond politics and security, Sun highlighted Libya’s fragile economic and humanitarian conditions. He described the recent agreement among Libyan parties on a unified development programme as a positive step but said more decisive action is required. According to him, the international community should build on this momentum by encouraging Libyan leaders to establish a unified national budget and confront long-standing structural challenges, including fiscal fragmentation, illegal currency printing and exchange rate imbalances.
Sun reaffirmed China’s commitment to working with the international community to support Libya’s efforts toward stability, peace and sustainable development, stressing that coordinated global engagement remains essential if the country is to overcome its prolonged political impasse.
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