BEIJING -- A State Forestry Administration spokesman on Tuesday denied a media report that China would rent one million hectares of Russian forests to develop timber resources.

Cao Qingyao, the spokesman, said at a press conference held by the Information Office of the State Council that the SFA "had not received any official invitation from the Russian side."

Timber was an important part of world trade, and China and Russia could cooperate in a range of areas when it comes to felling and processing forest resources, he said.

In terms of technology, labor and resources, the two nations had complementary advantages, Cao added.

He said China had joined with other countries to fell and process timber in legal projects with cooperation from governments, state-owned enterprises and private businesses.

China imported timber mainly from Russia, the United States, Indonesia, Canada and Japan, Cao said.