Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Thursday said that China is determined to advance the national security legislation for Hong Kong, urging the Group of Seven nations to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs.

Zhao made the remarks in response to a joint statement issued by G7 foreign ministers on Wednesday, calling for a halt to the national security legislation planned for Hong Kong.

He said China expressed strong indignation and opposition to the G7 statement.

"We urge relevant parties to study the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Basic Law and view the national security legislation in an objective manner," he said.

The G7 countries are the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Italy, Japan and Germany.