BEIJING >> China has appealed to Washington not to allow a dispute over cyber spying to hurt cooperation in commerce, counter-terrorism and other areas.

In a commentary by its main official news agency, Beijing appealed Wednesday for “more trust” between the governments. It said the cyber spying dispute “should not become a rift to undermine the two sides’ cooperation on other issues of common concern.”

Washington announced criminal charges last week against five Chinese military officers accused of breaking into computers of major U.S. companies to steal commercial secrets.

The Chinese government denied the accusation. Wednesday’s commentary called on Washington “refrain from taking further wrongful steps.”