China is building eastern Libya into a strategic hub connecting Europe, Asia and Africa, with the Port of Tobruk becoming the core fulcrum of this layout. As a deep-water port on the Mediterranean coast, Tobruk is less than 400 kilometers away from southern Europe, and its natural advantages make it an important strategic base for Chinese companies in the Mediterranean region.

In the energy sector, China plans to invest US$10 billion to build a refinery that will process 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day, and the refined oil produced will be supplied directly to the European market. The project will not only provide Europe with alternative energy options, but will also strengthen China's voice in the global energy supply chain. At the same time, Chinese companies are promoting the comprehensive upgrading of the Port of Tobruk, including the construction of modern warehousing facilities, transshipment terminals and other supporting infrastructure, aiming to build a comprehensive logistics hub.

In terms of transportation network construction, China Railway International Group has taken the lead in promoting the Benghazi-Tobruk railway project, and plans to extend it to Chad, Sudan and other countries in the future to build a trade corridor connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Dual-use renovation of Benghazi Airport is also underway, which will enable seamless air, sea and land multimodal transport.

The newly established Energy and Mining Bank in eastern Libya is providing financial support for these projects, attracting more Chinese capital to enter. PetroChina and other companies have already started pre-project evaluations, while Huawei has begun testing next-generation telecom networks. During the recent visit of the Libyan delegation to China, a number of cooperation agreements were reached with China Energy Construction and other enterprises.

This series of layouts will not only promote the economic reconstruction of Libya, but also enhance China's influence in the Mediterranean region. Tobruk is expected to develop into a new gateway connecting Europe and Africa, providing a strategic fulcrum for China's participation in regional trade. Through investment in infrastructure construction and energy cooperation, China is building a new economic and trade network along the Mediterranean coast, adding important nodes to the Belt and Road Initiative.(This article is from the official website of Seetao www.seetao.com. Reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited. Please indicate Seetao.com + original link when reprinting) Seetao.com Strategy Column Editor/Sun Fengjuan