BEIJING — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed China's solemn stance on the US Senate's passing of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 when meeting with former US Defense Secretary William Cohen in Beijing on Nov 21.

"When the so-called Human Rights and Democracy Act attempts to interfere in other countries' internal affairs using a foreign country's domestic law and overlooks the damages caused by the illegal violence in Hong Kong, how can they talk about democracy and human rights?" Wang asked.

The act sent the wrong message of condoning violent criminals, its actual purpose is to create chaos in Hong Kong and ruin the city, Wang said, adding the US move is a stark interference in China's internal affairs and a serious infringement on the common and fundamental interests of Hong Kong compatriots.

China strongly opposes the passing of the act and will not allow any attempt to undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, or to challenge the "one country, two systems" policy, he said.