China expressed hopes Tuesday its billions of dollars in trade with oil-rich Libya would continue

China expressed hopes Tuesday its billions of dollars in trade with oil-rich Libya would continue, as a state-run newspaper called on the West to "clear up its mess" in the war-torn country.
  
Rebel fighters seeking to end Moamer Gaddafi's 42-year rule have seized control of most of the capital Tripoli, and the whereabouts of the veteran strongman are unknown.
  
China has ploughed billions of dollars into Libya's rail, oil and telecom sectors, and Beijing acknowledged that its investments had been hit by the revolt that erupted in February during the "Arab Spring".
  
On Tuesday, it expressed hopes its "mutually beneficial" trade ties with the country would continue, after earlier saying it respected the Libyan people's choice, but hoped stability would soon be restored. "China's investments in Libya, particularly our oil investments, reflect mutually beneficial economic cooperation between the two countries," said Wen Zhongliang, deputy director of the commerce ministry's foreign trade department.
  
"We hope to continue to develop economic and trade cooperation with Libya in every aspect," he told reporters at a briefing Tuesday. Wen's comments came as state media reported that China's largest oil and gas producer has shut down six major projects in several countries including Libya because of political instability.
  
The state-run, English-language China Daily, echoing Beijing's earlier call for stability, urged national reconciliation to avoid "chaos" in Libya. "The relevant parties in Libya must end the war and restore peace as soon as possible," the newspaper said in an editorial. "This is both for the fundamental interest of all Libyans and conducive to the political stability of North Africa and the Middle East."