BEIJING -- China firmly rejects and strongly deplores the blatant vilification and smear by the United States against Chancay Port, China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry's spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks during a daily press briefing in response to a related query about relevant statements recently made by the US State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Chancay Port, a deep-water hub and South America's first smart green port, is a flagship Belt and Road cooperation project between China and Peru.