Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin Photo: fmprc.gov.cn

"China attaches great importance to the quality of its exports," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday in a general response to Bloomberg's probe on a shipment of allegedly contaminated fertilizer. 

Wang said that the fertilizer had passed tests of third-party agencies assigned by the Sri Lankan side before shipping, and added that "at the moment, China and Sri Lanka are working on the issue through communication and coordination." 

Sri Lanka has barred a Chinese ship carrying desperately needed organic fertilizer that experts have found to be tainted with harmful bacteria, AFP reported in late October, citing local officials.