China denounces G7 statement, urges group to stop slandering country

Extinction Rebellion demonstrators wearing masks depicting G7 leaders pose for a picture in St Ives Harbour, during the G7 summit, in Cornwall, Britain

China denounced on Monday a joint statement by the Group of Seven leaders that had scolded Beijing over a range of issues as a gross interference in the country's internal affairs, and urged the grouping to stop slandering China. The G7 leaders on Sunday took China to task over human rights in the heavily religious region of Xinjiang, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait - all highly sensitive issues for Beijing. China's embassy in London said it was strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed to mentions of Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan that distorted the facts and exposed the ‘sinister intentions of a few countries such as the United States’. With the Covid-19 pandemic still raging and global economy sluggish, the international community needs unity and cooperation of all countries rather than ‘cliquey’ power politics sowing division, it added.