Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle have talked on the phone, to discuss the situation in Libya.

On Thursday, Yang expressed China's great concern over the civilian deaths due to air strikes launched by Western powers, and urged an immediate cease-fire. He said the crisis should be resolved by dialogues on the basis of respecting Libya's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. Yang also said China supports the diplomatic efforts by the special envoy of the UN, the African Union and Arab League.