Voices, actions of international society

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's office confirmed Tuesday the prime minister would meet Libyan rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril Thursday in Milan to discuss how to protect the interests of Italian companies in Libya

Brazil's Foreign Ministry also told Reuters on Tuesday that the country believes the contracts of Brazilian companies will be respected by a new government in Libya.

China vowed on Tuesday to make every effort to ensure safety of its nationals stranded in Libya and provide assistance for their evacuation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said the Chinese embassy in Tripoli was in close contact with the stranded Chinese and offered assistance to their evacuation.

China has made it clear that it respects the choices of the Libyan people and is ready to cooperate with the international community to play a proactive role in the reconstruction of Libya in the future.

China also said the lawful assets left over in Libya by foreign countries, including foreign embassies and consulates and international organizations' offices in Tripoli or other cities, should be well protected while the new government should also deal with foreign countries' other assets appropriately as well, such as business contracts with the former government, suspended projects, and equipment left on work sites.