The spokeswoman for Libya's Presidential Council, Najwa Wheba, announced on Monday that the head of the council, Mohamed Menfi, received an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in the Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for the end of July.

Wheba added that the summit "will be an opportunity to hold important meetings and discuss political and economic files at the bilateral and regional levels," noting that the Libyan Presidential Council welcomed the expected return of the Russian embassy to work fully in Tripoli.

Wheba also encouraged all diplomatic missions to return and work from the capital, Tripoli, stressing that the historic relations between Libya and Russia and that Libya has not abandoned this relationship and is keen to strengthen it.

She explained that the recent acceptance of the credentials of the Russian Ambassador, Aydar Aganin, by Menfi, comes within the framework of a joint desire to strengthen bilateral relations in a way that achieves the common interest of the two friendly countries and peoples.

She added, "Libya today is open to everyone and welcomes building relations with all countries on the basis of mutual respect, and it looks forward to developing bilateral relations with Russia in various fields".