BEIJING - China vowed on Tuesday to make every effort to ensure safety of its nationals stranded in Libya, and provide assistance for their evacuation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the remarks in response to a question regarding China's efforts in helping its citizens leave the war-torn country.

"The staff of the Chinese embassy in Tripoli had been staying at their posts following the major changes of security situation in Libya, and paid close attention to the safety of Chinese citizens in Libya including Chinese journalists," Ma said.

The embassy was in close contact with the stranded Chinese and offered assistance to their evacuation, the spokesman added.

"We have got in touch with related countries and international organizations, to seek different channels for evacuating stranded Chinese from Libya," Ma said.

He urged stranded Chinese nationals including journalists avoid heading for war zone in Libya at the current stage, and stay in close touch with the Chinese embassy in Tripoli.

"The embassy will continue to do its best to help stranded Chinese in the north African country," he added.

China said earlier that it respects the choices of the people of Libya and is ready to cooperate with the international community to play a proactive role in the reconstruction of Libya in the future.

More than 35,000 Chinese citizens, mostly employees in the engineering, infrastructure and oil sectors, were evacuated from Libya since February due to the worsening situation.

Al-Jazeera television reported earlier Tuesday that Libyan rebels have already entered the first gate of Muammar Gaddafi's tightly-guarded Bab al- Azizya compound in Tripoli, after a NATO warplane had bombed the compound.

Head of the Russian Chess Federation Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said on Tuesday that Gaddafi told him by telephone that he was in Tripoli and did not intend to leave the country.