BERLIN
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged a peaceful solution to the protests in Hong Kong, during a joint press conference Friday with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Berlin.
“The demonstrations have been peaceful so far and I hope that they will remain so,” Merkel said. “And I hope that, based on the free exchange of opinions, solutions can be found that will satisfy the people of Hong Kong."
Li stressed that China's One Country, Two Systems principle would continue to be the policy of Chinese government.
“Since the return of Hong Kong to China, for the central Chinese government One Country, Two Systems has been the supreme guideline and Hong Kong has been given a high degree of autonomy,” Li said in remarks translated to German.
“The practice also shows that there has been no change in this policy. It will remain to be so."
Li underlined the importance of stability, arguing that the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong was in the interests of China and the territory's residents.
“I am convinced that the Hong Kongers with their wisdom and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with its competence are in a position to preserve the prosperity of the city and to maintain social stability,” he said.
The Chinese premier also tried to address the concerns of the foreign investors.
“We will continue to legally protect the legitimate interests of all foreign investors in Hong Kong, including German investors,” he added.
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