Germany's Merkel says Hong Kong's rights should be protected
BEIJING -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents should be protected, adding that a solution to the Chinese city's political crisis can only be garnered through dialogue while violence should be avoided.
Merkel met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang after arriving in Beijing in the morning. She will dine with President Xi Jinping in the evening.
The German leader faces the challenge of balancing human rights concerns and economic discussions with one of Germany's largest trading partners.
"I indicated during the talks that the rights and freedoms agreed upon in Hong Kong's Basic Law should be safeguarded," Merkel said during a joint news briefing with Li. The Basic Law is Hong Kong's de facto constitution, which promises the semi-autonomous Chinese city certain democratic rights not afforded to the mainland.
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