(File photo: MFA)

China firmly opposes the moves by Germany and France, which politicize Hong Kong's judicial cooperation, interfere in China's internal affairs and violate international law and basic norms governing international relations, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian during Thursday's press conference.

The remarks come after China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s decision to suspend its extradition agreements with Germany and France.

Before the decision, Germany and France unilaterally announced the suspension of the implementation of the Surrender of Fugitive Offenders (SFO) agreement and halted the ratification of the relevant agreement with the HKSAR, respectively.

Zhao said that the wrongful acts of Germany and France undermine the basis of the HKSAR's judicial cooperation with foreign countries, and deviate from the purpose of judicial cooperation to uphold justice and the rule of law.

"For this reason, China decided that the HKSAR suspended the implementation of the SFO agreement between the HKSAR and Germany and shelved the SFO agreement between the HKSAR and France," Zhao added.

The HKSAR signed the SFO agreement with Germany in May 2006, and that with France in May 2017. The SFO agreement between the HKSAR and Germany entered into force in April 2009, while the SFO agreement between the HKSAR and France was still pending before it was shelved.