Safety needs to be further improved in Libya before Chinese engineering companies can return and restart their engineering projects, Commerce Minister Chen Deming said on Wednesday.

Libya hopes that Chinese engineering companies and workers will return as soon as possible. China "is currently evaluating the safety conditions in Libya. Once it is ok, Chinese companies will return. But first safety needs to be further improved," Chen said.

China has no direct investment in Libya but contracted engineering projects worth more than $10 billion, mainly for residential projects. They suffered "severe loss during the unrest", said Chen.