Libyan opposition 'important dialogue partner'

BEIJING - China regards Libya's opposition National Transitional Council (NTC) as "an important dialogue partner" as it hosted the first visit of the country's opposition leader to Beijing.

"Since its creation, the NTC has increased its representativeness and gradually become a major political power. China sees it as an important dialogue partner," Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in a meeting with Mahmoud Jibril, chairman of the NTC Executive Board, on Wednesday.

Jibril kicked off his two-day China visit on Tuesday. He is the first Libyan opposition leader to come to China since the crisis erupted in February.