OTTAWA ¨C The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa warned Canada on Sunday to stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs a day after the country issued a joint statement with the European Union in defense of the ¡°fundamental right of assembly¡± for Hong Kong citizens.

Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters rallied peacefully in Hong Kong on Sunday in the 11th week of what have been often violent demonstrations in the Asian financial hub.

On the eve of Sunday¡¯s rally, Canadian Foreign Minister Chyrstia Freeland and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said: ¡°Fundamental freedoms, including the right of peaceful assembly ... must continue to be upheld.¡±

The Canada-EU statement also expressed concerns about the escalation of violence and encouraged engagement by all sides to ease tensions.

The Chinese Embassy said in a statement on its website that Canada should ¡°immediately stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China¡¯s internal affairs.¡±

¡°Under the current situation, the Canadian side should be cautious on its words and deeds regarding the Hong Kong related issue,¡± the statement from an unnamed ¡°spokesperson¡± for the embassy in Canada said.

¡°The relevant protests and demonstrations in Hong Kong have already deteriorated and evolved into extreme violence. In face of such severe violence and offenses, no government with a sense of responsibility would sit idly by,¡± the statement said.

Canada¡¯s foreign ministry had no immediate response. Canada has about 300,000 citizens living in Hong Kong, the ministry has said.

Canada has been caught up in a diplomatic dispute with China since Canada¡¯s detention of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant in December.

Shortly after Meng¡¯s arrest in Vancouver, British Columbia, China detained two Canadian men, who have yet to be released. China has also blocked imports of some Canadian commodities.