China’s foreign minister Wang Yi has said “no force” from the West can stop the country from “striding towards modernisation”.

Mr Wang told Chinese state media in his end-year interview about diplomatic relations that Beijing would remain “consistent, confident and patient” when dealing with outside forces.

“Any attempt to interfere in China’s internal affairs or hold back China’s development will be crushed by the wheels of history,” he said.

He went on to say Beijing firmly supports the Hong Kong government “in ending violence and chaos”, and said: “Time will prove that ‘One Country, Two Systems’ not only works and works well in Hong Kong, but also has the support of the people there.”

Mr Wang’s comments come as a fresh wave of protests filled malls in Hong Kong on Christmas Eve, with heavy police presence in the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Kowloon.

Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Show all 24 1 /24 Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police in riot gear move through a cloud of smoke as they detain a protester at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester takes cover under an umbrella Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protestor reacts to police officers EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Pro-democracy protesters react after the police fired tear gas outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A pro-democracy protester holds a placard EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters react as police fire tear gas AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban An anti-government protester is silhouetted during protests Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Tear gas engulf umbrellas Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester lowers himself down a rope from a bridge to a highway, to escape AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban People form a human chain to pass materials as they gather for a march towards Hong Kong Polytechnic University AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters are seen after leaving the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Pro-democracy protesters during clashes with police outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police spray blue-dyed liquid AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters are sprayed with blue liquid from water cannon during clashes with police outside Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Hong Kong, China, November 17, 2019. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu TYRONE SIU Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police officers detain a protester AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban An injured protester is evacuated by ambulance EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Injured people are taken away after clashes Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by police at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Kong on November 17, 2019. - Hong Kong police fired tear gas on November 17 morning at protesters intent on keeping their stranglehold on a major tunnel as pro-democracy activists vowed to "squeeze the economy" into next week. (Photo by Ye Aung Thu / AFP) (Photo by YE AUNG THU/AFP via Getty Images) YE AUNG THU AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police arrest anti-government protesters Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester's umbrella is seen on fire during clashes with police outside Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in Hong Kong, China November 17, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Medical staff carry a protester out of the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters try to extinguish a tear gas canister Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters take a rope down from a bridge to a highway, to escape from Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protestor gestures during a confrontation with police AP

Protesters demonstrating inside the malls had thrown umbrellas and other projectiles at police, who reportedly responded by beating some demonstrators with batons and launching tear gas.

Scores of black clad, mask-wearing protesters chanted slogans including “Revive Hong Kong, revolution of our time” and “Hong Kong independence”.

Police have arrested over 6,000 people since protests escalated in June, including a large number during a violent siege at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in mid-November.

Of Xinjiang, Mr Wang insisted China has “ensured the safety and well-being of over 24 million fellow countrymen of different ethnic groups there” while halting terrorism.

“Our de-radicalisation efforts have responded well to the call of the UN and are becoming an important part of the global fight against terrorism,” he said.

The detainment of at least one million Uighur Muslims and other religious minorities in Xinjiang has earned China criticism from the UN and the international community, who say it is an abuse of human rights.

The UN said China’s counter-terrorism law was being used to justify the repression of Muslims living in the region.

In the interview, Mr Wang also commented on China-US diplomatic relations and referred to territorial disputes in the South China Sea, which China claims vast swathes of.

He said: “Regrettably… the US has taken a string of actions to obstruct and repress China in trade, science and technology, and has been meddling in a series of issues concerning China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and smearing China.

“No one, and no force, can stop the historic march of the 1.4 billion Chinese people towards modernisation,” he added.

According to Mr Wang, cooperation is the only way for China-US relations to improve and move forward, not confrontation.

“It is our hope that the US side will return to a fact-based and correct perception of China and a sensible and pragmatic policy towards China.”