America News Agency

Beijing welcomed the United States' decision not to extend the national emergency concerning Hong Kong. The Chinese government described the move as an important step toward implementing the consensus reached during economic and trade negotiations with Washington.

The national emergency was originally put into effect in 2020 through Executive Order 13936 signed by the then U.S. President.

Speaking yesterday, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce pointed to the negotiations held between the two countries in Madrid. The spokesperson said the U.S. side had made commitments regarding Hong Kong and investment issues and had officially informed Beijing that the executive order, which expired on July 14, would not be extended.

The spokesperson stressed that safeguarding Hong Kong's prosperity and stability serves the common interests of both China and the United States, adding that Washington's move is also in line with the expectations of the international community.

The spokesperson called on the United States to respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and to restore and strengthen normal economic and trade relations with the region.