Double standards and Cold War-era thinking are behind the recent allegations accusing China of boosting its publicity worldwide in order to impose "sharp power" upon others, a spokesman has said.

Wang Guoqing, spokesman for the first session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a news conference Friday in Beijing when asked about such accusations.

Those Western countries doing the same thing have been labeled as showing soft power or smart power, but China has been characterized as having ulterior motives or displaying "sharp power", Wang said.

Such allegations have been full of prejudice, discrimination and hostility, and they are of the latest edition of views hyping China's threat, the spokesman added.

"It is not the first time, and I think it will also not be the last time that a new term is created to tarnish China's image," Wang said.

As China's overall strength is on the rise, it has also stepped up its publicity overseas in order to present its image and help the international community get to know China in a timely and accurate manner, Wang said.