Libya opposition leader Chairman of the Executive Board of Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) Mahmoud Jibril arrived in Beijing Tuesday noon and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will meet him concerning Libyan situation, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a press briefing Tuesday afternoon.

Jibril is the first Libyan opposition leader to come to China since the outbreak of the crisis in February.

Hong didn't disclose further details of Jibril's schedule in China, but called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations to resolve the crisis through political means.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has always been committed to safeguarding world peace and stability, Hong said.

"China has been deeply concerned over the crisis, and we believe the current situation is untenable, so it's time to come up with a political solution."

China has always supported the mediation efforts by the international community, particularly those by the African Union and the United Nations, Hong said.

"China also sought direct engagement with both sides and persuaded them to give priority to the fundamental interests of the country and the people and safeguard regional peace and stability."

China's first confirmed contact with Libya's opposition leader took place on June 2 when ambassador to Qatar Zhang Zhiliang met with NTC Chairman Jalil in Doha.

Subsequently, Li Lianhe, a diplomat in Egypt, went to east Libya's Benghazi, the opposition's headquarters, where he met with Jalil and inspected the humanitarian situation and property of Chinese businesses that remain there.

Foreign Minister Yang met with his Libyan counterpart Abdul Ati Al-Obidi, also special envoy of the Libyan government, in Beijing earlier in June.

(China.org.cn June 21, 2011)