DAMASCUS: 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 Chinese State Media on 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. – Agencies
