Updated: 2012-02-16 19:30

By Li Jiabao (chinadaily.com.cn)

Following a visit to Libya by China's first official working team earlier this month to discuss Libya's reconstruction, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that both countries anticipate re-starting economic cooperation and investment.

Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang said Libya welcomes China's return to its market and the participation of Chinese companies in post-war reconstruction.

"At present, there is no timetable for Chinese companies to return to Libya or to restart their projects because further negotiations are in progress concerning compensation for losses, payments for projects and worker safety," Shen said.

The official Chinese working team of representatives from various Chinese companies, including China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China Communications Construction Co Ltd and China Gezhouba Group Company Ltd, and the China International Contractors Association was led by the head of the ministry's Outward Investment and Economic Cooperation Department. The team was in Libya from Feb 4 to Feb 8 and met with Libyan officials on unfinished projects and project resumption.