The German government said it considers China to be a responsible actor that will respect Hong Kong laws guaranteeing freedom of speech and rule of law.
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday that Hong Kong's 1997 Basic Law ''is a Chinese law, and as such we naturally expect that the People's Republic of China, too, won't call into question the peaceful exercise of these rights.''
Seibert told reporters in Berlin that while Germany has been following events in Hong Kong with concern, ''we know China as a responsible actor on the world stage with whom we work well together in many areas.''
He reiterated German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent call for a peaceful solution based on dialogue. (AP)