The Chinese Foreign Ministry today said the recent New York Times article on China gaining influence over Sri Lanka through a 'debt-trap' was a distortion of facts. 

"This is not only conducive to the economic development of Sri Lanka, but also conducive to regional interconnection and the common prosperity of regional countries," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang told a press briefing today.

Lu made the remarks in response to allegations that appeared in U.S. media reports, which stated that China's acquisition of the Hambantota port from Sri Lanka highlights its "debt trap" and ambitious use of loans to gain influence around the world.

Lu said such reports seriously distort the facts, which are either irresponsible or under the orders of people with ulterior motives, "We hope that the relevant media will not be keen on fake news."

The construction of the Hambantota port is the wish of successive governments and people of Sri Lanka, said Lu, adding that China encourages its companies to cooperate with the Sri Lankan side according to commercial principles and on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

"According to the needs of Sri Lanka, Chinese financial institutions have provided support to Sri Lanka in solving the financing gap. Later, the Chinese side made efforts to adjust relevant asset allocation according to the wishes of the Sri Lankan side," said Lu, noting that those arrangements will benefit the business cooperation between the two sides.

"If the fabricators of the so-called 'debt trap' can not give the developing countries real help, they can at least take a healthy attitude towards the sincere cooperation between other countries," said Lu. (With Inputs from Xinhua)