Spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry Zhao Lijian speaks at a daily press briefing on February 27, 2020. (Photo: China's Foreign Ministry)

 China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday in response to reports claiming China requested France use Huawei in its 5G network in exchange for masks. 

US representative Mark Green was reported to have said China told France it would provide 1 billion protective face masks only if Chinese technology giant Huawei were allowed to implement its 5G capabilities in France. 

"I don't know what evidence this US representative has," Zhao said during a press conference. "His words again show that some politicians in the US can go as far as fabricating and spreading lies to jeopardize international cooperation to tackle the coronavirus, and China's relationships with other countries."

According to Zhao, leaders of both countries have spoken three times since the outbreak of COVID-19, a sign of high-level mutual trust. China has so far provided France with a batch of medical supplies to fight the coronavirus out of friendship and a humanitarian spirit, and China has been facilitating France's purchases of medical products from China, without any conditions.