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BEIJING Memo to U.S. media executives: If you do a photo op in the headquarters of Chinas state-run Xinhua news agency, be prepared for some surprises.

Gary Pruitt, CEO and president of the Associated Press, learned that this week following a March 27 meeting with his counterpart, Xinhua President Cai Mingzhao.

During his visit, Pruitt shook hands, posed for photos and toured Xinhuas social media operations center. On Monday, Xinhua published a story saying the worlds two leading news agencies . . . have agreed to strengthen cooperation in social media.

Xinhuas story triggered a buzz in media circles. Some netizens were aghast that AP might use its social media platforms to promote content from a government propaganda organ.

The only problem? The story wasnt true, at least according to AP.

There is no social media sharing arrangement planned between AP and Xinhua, said Paul Colford, the Associated Press media relations director, in a statement late Wednesday.

Colford didnt respond when asked if AP would be seeking a correction from Xinhua. He characterized the Beijing visit as part of a routine exchange between the two news agencies. AP executives, he said, told Xinhua leaders that if they visited our headquarters in New York we would be happy to give a similar tour.

How and why Xinhua announced a deal that wasnt a deal isnt entirely clear. Attempts to interview Xinhuas Cai Mingzhao were unsuccessful Thursday. McClatchy was also unable to interview Pruitt, who previously had served as CEO of McClatchy.

The Associated Press, a not-for-profit news agency owned by U.S. newspapers and broadcasters, has been steadily growing its business in China. In 2012, AP signed its first commercial contract with Xinhua, allowing the Chinese news agency to sell AP photos in China, so it wasnt unfathomable that new deals might be in the works.

Even so, some media observers in Asia were immediately suspicious of Xinhuas report, given the Chinese news agencys record of hyping its global stature and distorting other information.

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AP denies Chinas claims it is partnering on social media