LUSAKA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Friday refuted reports on social media that two students from the southern African nation were sentenced to death in China on drug trafficking charges.

The Zambian foreign ministry said such information was mere fabrication that must be treated with utmost contempt, state-run Zambia News and Information Service (ZANIS) reported.

Winnie Chibesakunda, Zambia's ambassador to China, said no such sentencing has been received by the embassy or recorded by Chinese authorities.

There were no Zambian students in China bearing the names indicated in those reports circulated online, she said.

Chibesakunda said the embassy is always monitoring the well-being of all students in China.