TRIPOLI, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Charge D'affaires Wang Qimin on Monday reaffirmed China's commitment to a comprehensive political settlement of the division in Libya.

Wang made his remarks at a press conference following a meeting with Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Sayala in the capital Tripoli.

He highlighted the importance of the upcoming Libyan elections to complete the transitional phase in the war-torn country.

He added that the Libyan people should be allowed to shape their future, as they're capable of solving the current difficulties and crisis.

"I have discussed with the foreign minister the bilateral relations and close cooperation between Libya and China, especially as our relationship is 40 years old and has developed very well over the past few years," the Chinese diplomat said.

He also expressed the hope that the situation in Libya would improve, so that the Chinese embassy can return to Tripoli, and the related Chinese companies can complete their projects in Libya which have been suspended since 2011.

"We will follow the situation in Libya closely. When the time is right, the embassy will return to its permanent headquarters," Wang said, when asked about the date of the return of the Chinese embassy to Libya.

For his part, Sayala announced that he had accepted the invitation to attend the Chinese-Arab foreign ministers meeting in Beijing in July.

He said that Prime Minister Fayez Serraj had also accepted the invitation to attend the China-Africa summit to be held in Beijing in September.

Wang is the first senior Chinese official who has visited Libya since the Chinese embassy left the country in 2014 due to the armed conflict.

On Monday, he met with Abdurrahman Swehli, head of the Libyan Higher Council of State, in Tripoli to discuss the latest political developments in Libya as well as future cooperation between the two countries.