China on Thursday denounced a US newspaper report about China advising Indonesia to lower its food safety standards as "purely untrue".

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that during their consultations on food safety, a Chinese official had proposed to an Indonesian food and drug safety official that Indonesia lower its product safety standards. The proposal was rejected by the Indonesian side.

"The report does not accord with the facts," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said at Thursday's regular press conference. "We have checked with relevant departments. There isn't such a matter."

She said an Indonesian delegation was in China to discuss food safety with China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on Wednesday. Head of the delegation, Halida Miljani, also said there were no such remarks.

The Chinese Government always requires import and export products to meet laws, regulations and standards of China and export countries and regions, said Jiang.

China stands for resolving inspection and quarantine problems through equal and scientific dialogues and cooperation, she said.

"We believe it amounts to discrimination to set inspection and quarantine requirements depending on how big or small, how strong or weak the partners are," Jiang said.

She said China does act this way and also opposes such practices by other countries.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2007)