Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad speaks in an interview with Xinhua on June 3, 2020. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua)
DAMASCUS, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Syria respects China's right to legislate to safeguard national security, which brooks no foreign interference, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has said.
In an interview with Xinhua Wednesday, Mekdad voiced his country's support for China's national security legislation for its Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
Last week, Chinese lawmakers voted overwhelmingly at the third session of the 13th National People's Congress, the top legislature, to approve a decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security.
In response, the U.S. authorities have threatened to cancel their special trade treatment for Hong Kong. The threats are considered by the Syrian government as interference in China's internal affairs, Mekdad said.
"Each country has the right to legislate for itself and China is not an exception," he said, adding that no other country has the right to interfere with the legislation enacted by the Chinese government.
Mekdad said Syria "strongly supports the decisions" made by the Chinese legislature, noting that it is the right of the Chinese people and their representatives.
Stressing that Hong Kong is "part and parcel of China," he said the Syrian government respects the one-China principle and fully supports the efforts of the Chinese government to protect the interests and security of the Chinese people and of China as a country.
Mekdad said the Chinese government has done a "great job" by doing its best to not only end the colonization in Hong Kong, but also maintain security in the special administrative region.
China is following a correct policy of "reintegrating all parts of China into the homeland," he said. "In Syria, we believe in one China."
The deputy foreign minister said he thinks that the overwhelming majority of the people in Hong Kong support the legislation on national security, noting that China will succeed in its efforts to stay united.
Mekdad also voiced his belief that China has always been a defender of world peace and security.
China, as an active member of the United Nations Security Council, has played an important and decisive role in maintaining world peace and security, he said. Enditem
