China urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to act strictly within its mandate, strengthen cooperation with Libya, and called on the international community to support the country's political transition, at a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday.
ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said that over the past six months, under the mandate of the Security Council, arrests had been initiated against several individuals charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. She noted that the first case is nearing the trial stage, and called for the international community to assist in executing remaining arrest warrants, key to ending Libya's long-standing culture of impunity.
China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Sun Lei, praised the cooperation between the ICC and Libyan authorities mentioned in the latest prosecutor's report. He emphasized that the Court's efforts must honor Libya's judicial independence and national jurisdiction. He also called on the ICC to listen to Libya's legitimate concerns, maintain close coordination with Libyan counterparts, balance judicial justice with peace and stability, avoid politicization, and steer clear of applying double standards.
"We call on all Libyan parties to uphold the ceasefire, resolve their disputes properly, and foster a positive environment for political resolution. The Security Council must support a greater role for the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), adhere to the principle of a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned solution, and promote inclusive dialogue to overcome the political stalemate as early as possible. The international community should fully respect Libya's sovereignty and leadership, and steer clear of unwarranted interference or coercion," said Sun.
Chinese envoy calls for upholding Libya’s sovereignty in ICC process
Chinese envoy calls for upholding Libya’s sovereignty in ICC process
Residents living in Canada's biggest city of Toronto have expressed optimism that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's official visit to China can unlock new economic opportunities, particularly in key fields such as artificial intelligence and infrastructure.
Carney is set to arrive in China on Wednesday to begin a four-day visit at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, marking the first trip by a Canadian prime minister to China since 2017.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Carney during his stay to provide new strategic guidance for further improving and developing China-Canada relations.
Giving their assessment of the significance of the visit and the outcomes they hope to see achieved, local people in Toronto pointed to the importance of deepening cooperation and view the high-tech sector as one of the most pivotal areas where ties can be enhanced.
"I think, of course, China is probably the leader in AI and new technologies. So, I think Canada can really benefit from Chinese expertise on some of the chip manufacturing or just the use of AI in the medical field, in every other finance field and everything. So, I think this can be very important for Canada to learn from China," said Raman, the provincial liaison manager at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.
"I think it is a good idea to strengthen relations with other countries and other trade partners that have been probably more consistent. And especially with things going on in electronics right now and chip manufacturing, I do think that it makes sense at this point in time to be reaching out to China," said Jen, a local nurse.
Some see Carney's visit as an opportunity to broaden the economic agenda in various other key areas.
"I'm actually pretty looking forward to it because they could talk a lot about trade. That could be a good opportunity for Canada and China to explore some other export opportunities on energy, and also, maybe pipeline building, infrastructure building, and also, real estate investment and agriculture," said Xiong Lulu, an equity research analyst.
Looking ahead, many residents emphasize that much depends on whether Carney's visit can translate into concrete agreements.
"It would be nice. I hope there's some kind of good relationship between China and Canada. That would be like a great opportunity that we would miss if we didn't create that relationship with them. So, hopefully, in hindsight, [in] 2026 it does happen," said John, a software developer.
"I think if they can settle some trade deals, that will be great. So, I think it will be great for the Canadian economy," said Xiong.
President Xi and Carney last met on the sidelines of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in the Republic of Korea (ROK) in October, with both sides agreeing to resume exchanges and cooperation in various fields and jointly advance the development of the China-Canada strategic partnership.
Toronto residents optimistic about Canada-China cooperation prospects
