BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- China highly appreciates Russia's position on Hong Kong-related affairs, which reflects not only the high level of China-Russia relations but also the unanimous voice of people with a sense of justice in the international community, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks at a press conference when asked about comments by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday. Zakharova said the Hong Kong issue is purely an internal affair of China, while the U.S. and British manipulation of the Hong Kong issue at the UN Security Council seriously violates not only China's sovereignty but also basic norms of international law and is unacceptable.

Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ms. Zakharova, have recently voiced their support for China's just position on Hong Kong-related issues and called on external forces not to interfere in China's internal affairs, Geng said.

The national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is purely China's internal affair, and no foreign country has the right to interfere, Geng said. "If someone persists in harming Chinese interests, China will resolutely respond with all necessary measures."