China welcomes a United States decision not to extend a national emergency related to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, calling the move an important step in implementing the consensus reached during China-US economic and trade consultations, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Friday.

The emergency was declared in 2020 under Executive Order 13936 signed by the US president. It included measures to suspend or eliminate the different and preferential treatment for Hong Kong, and to authorize sanctions against entities and individuals with respect to Hong Kong.

During China-US economic and trade consultations in Madrid in 2025, the US made commitments on issues that included the Hong Kong SAR and investment. The US recently confirmed to China that it will not extend the Hong Kong SAR-related national emergency after its expiration in 2026, and that Executive Order 13936 will be terminated, the ministry spokesperson said.

Maintaining the Hong Kong SAR's prosperity and stability serves the common interests of China and the US, the spokesperson said, adding that the adjustment to the US policy toward the Hong Kong SAR in a positive direction also meets the broader expectations of the international community.

China hopes the US will honor relevant international conventions and the consensus reached by the two sides, respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in the Hong Kong SAR, and restore and strengthen normal economic and trade ties with the city, the spokesperson said.

Such efforts will contribute positively to building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability, the spokesperson added.

In a statement on Friday evening, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong SAR government said that the US’ decision not to renew the national emergency related to the city is an important step in implementing the consensus reached in China-US economic and trade consultations.

Safeguarding the Hong Kong SAR’s prosperity and stability serves the common interests of both China and the US, and meets the general expectations of the international community, the spokesperson said.

The SAR government affirms the US side’s adjustment of its Hong Kong-related policies in a positive direction and hopes that the US will respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in the Hong Kong SAR, and restore and strengthen normal economic and trade exchanges with the city.

Xinhua contributed to this story.