Chairman of the Chinese supplier to British supermarket chain Tesco has rejected allegations the company used forced labor in the production of Christmas cards as "completely fabricated."

In an exclusive interview with CGTN on Tuesday, Lu Yunbiao, chairman of Zhejiang Yunguang Printing Company, said claims in the British media that the company used foreign inmates in Shanghai Qingpu Prison as forced labor were not based on facts.

"I was very shocked when I heard of the news, because we never had such practice," Lu told CGTN.

"I don't have either the telephone number of Qingpu Prison or its address. It is completely fabricated and slanderous. We have never had business relations with Qingpu Prison."

'Nothing to hide'

Lu reiterated that all of Yunguang's products were made by Chinese workers, strictly obeying Chinese employment and labor laws.

"The batch of the Christmas cards was made by Yunguang company in all processes, from printing to packing, then put into containers for export. I can definitely say they were all produced by Chinese workers. I am very angry at such accusations against Chinese companies like this."

According to him, exports make up about 60 percent of the company's business and overseas clients make regular and random inspections every year on human rights, environmental protection and fire protection.

"All of our foreign trade clients strictly examine us at least once a year apart from random inspections," the chairman explained.

"According to our contracts, my company has to be transparent to clients in every aspect, and they can even check our computers. We are very transparent, and very responsible to our clients, and there is nothing to hide in our business."

The Sunday Times on December 22 reported that a six-year-old girl found a message hidden in a Christmas card allegedly made by prisoners in Shanghai's Qingpu Prison. The article suggested the message came from prisoners claiming they were "forced to work against our will."

Tesco: No recent evidence 

In a statement sent to CGTN, Tesco said Zhejiang Yunguang Printing Company was "independently audited as recently as last month and no evidence was found to suggest they had broken our rule banning the use of prison labor." 

The statement said Tesco was "shocked" by the report and had suspended production of charity Christmas cards at the company.

Prison warden: 'An imaginative story'

Li Qiang, warden of Shanghai Qingpu Prison, rejected the accusation in an exclusive interview with CGTN. "It is impossible that this batch of Christmas cards originated from here," said Li. "It is such an imaginative story."

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Monday dismissed the forced labor allegation, calling it a "farce," completely made up.

"I can tell you responsibly that, after seeking clarification from relevant departments, Shanghai Qingpu Prison does not at all have forced labor by foreign convicts," Geng said.