Ogilvy Public Relations is repping China’s ZTE Corp. in the aftermath of a House intelligence committee investigative report dealing with national security issues raised by the use of its telecommunications equipment by U.S. telecoms.

The panel chaired by Congressman Mike Rogers found that ZTE and rival Huawei “cannot be trusted to be free of foreign state influence and thus pose a security threat to the United States and to our systems.”

The October report recommended that U.S. government systems, particularly sensitive systems, should not include Huawei or ZTE equipment, including in component parts. Private sector companies “are strongly encouraged to consider the long-term security risks associated with doing business with either ZTE or Huawei for equipment or services.”

The Rogers panel urged the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to block “acquisitions, takeovers, or mergers involving Huawei and ZTE given the threat to U.S. national security interests.”

ZTE USA, which is based in Richardson, Tex., knocked the Rogers report, contending that its equipment poses no threat to the U.S. telecommunications infrastructure.

“ZTE will work with the Committee, US government agencies, and ZTE’s US customers to identify and deploy the most effective equipment cyber-security measures possible.

ZTE is committed to assuring US carriers and US government agencies its equipment is safe,” said the company’s statement.

Rory Davenport, Ogilvy’s senior VP/PA, is leading the push for ZTE. His job is to push for “open and transparent markets in U.S./China trade relations.”