The three-generation (3G) network of Libya, installed by ZTE, a Chinese communications firm, has been performing normally ever since its operation began on Sept. 20, said a leading official of the ZTE stationed in Libya on October 7.

The formal provision of the 3G network in the sphere of mobile telecommunications has made Libya the first country to officially operate the 3G network in the northern Africa region, with one of the biggest 3G networks in the whole of Africa.

The 3G network will enable Libya's telecommunications industry to provide the most up-to-date services to clients. Muhammad Qaddafi, son of the Libyan leader Omar Mouammer al Qaddafi and chairman of the Libyan posts and telecommunication authority, at an inauguration ceremony spoke highly of the Chinese firm's contribution in the telecommunication service in Libya, saying that "his dream has finally come true with the help of the Chinese firm."

Brief introduction of Libya

Situated in north Africa with an area of 1.76 million sq km, the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya has a population of 6 million, mostly Arab people.

Arabic is Libya's national language, with English in common use, and Islamism is its national religion, and Tripoli is the national capital.

The Libyan head of state is Muammar al-Qaddafi, the Libyan army captain who had deposed King Idris in September 1969 revolution.

Bilateral relations between Libya and China are very friendly ever since the forging of their diplomatic ties on August 9, 1978 with quite sound bilateral cooperation in both regional and international affairs.

The volume of bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to about 1.3 billion US dollars in 2005.

By People's Daily Online