The SNP has "misled" the public over its memorandum of understanding with two Chinese companies, Scottish Labour has said.

Scottish Labour's economy spokesperson Jackie Baillie made the accusation following the publication of 77 pages of emails containing communications surrounding the agreement between the three parties.

The Dumbarton MSP's comments focus on the involvement of Scottish businessman and SNP donor Sir Brian Souter.

On April 10, an SNP spokesperson said Scottish Government ministers "had no discussions with Brian Souter over" the memorandum of understanding.

An email from 24 February, however, shows a Scottish Government official offering to table a meeting with Souter and a representative from the Chinese firms.

The email states: "Souter Investments: Sir Brian Souter and members of his team, diaries permitting. Souter have proposed a lunch or breakfast slot to consider how they can support you and SG going forward. Please let me know if you would like me to diary this in for the 10th [of March]."

Scottish Labour's economy, fair work and jobs spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: "We need an urgent Parliamentary statement from Keith Brown about the SNP Government's deal with the Chinese consortium. I will also be asking the Economy Committee to investigate this entire process.

"The SNP have misled people on Brian Souter's involvement in this deal. We were told that SNP donor Brian Souter had no involvement in this deal, yet these papers expose the fact that Scottish Government officials have been working with Mr Souter on this for months.

"A press release was drafted, and then blocked by the First Minister's office. The First Minister was told that Brian Souter was a likely investor in the deal yet the SNP still told the media he was not involved.

"This is a clear case of the SNP Government simply not telling the Scottish people the truth. The arrogance of the SNP Government is breathtaking."

Souter and his company Souter investments appear 34 times in the documents.

The then cabinet secretary for infrastructure Keith Brown was made aware on March 15 that one of the Chinese firms, Sino Fortone, were meeting with Souter Investments earlier in the same day which he was due to attend a dinner with representatives from the firm.

Following the publication of the emails Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie called on the memorandum to be "shredded".

Rennie said: "These revelations today show that the Memorandum of Understanding should be shredded.

"The Norwegian oil fund has rejected the China Railway Group, Amnesty International has condemned them and even Falkirk Council has said no. The only people who seem to have no concerns about the China Railway Group are the SNP Government.

"No one will be persuaded by the SNP's bluff and bluster."

Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone accused the of having "ducked and weaved" over the details of the deal.

Johnstone said: "The SNP has dodged and weaved for weeks on its Chinese deal. Finally when forced to publish the facts, it blames opposition parties for asking questions. It is classic SNP: duck scrutiny and then go on the attack when challenged.

"We will continue to hold the SNP to account and demand that we have a government which is open and transparent."

Keith Brown, who is now economy secretary, said the publication highlights that opposition parties have been "misguided" in their "assertions".

Brown said: "These papers show how misguided opposition politicians have been over this issue and expose their assertions as unfounded.

"It is clear that while all potential investment has to be considered carefully, opposition parties should be wary about deterring potential investment.

"The full set of papers we are releasing shows that the approach taken by the Scottish Government to potential investment in Scotland was entirely appropriate throughout the process

"The papers confirm that the interest from Chinese investors with the potential of up to £10 billion of investment in a range of private and local authority projects was serious and credible, but that discussions remain at an early stage, with no specific projects or any investment whatsoever agreed.

He continued: "The papers also confirm the interest of the Scottish Government in investment that is 'responsible and sustainable', and also in the use of local labour and supply chains.

"Today's release and publication of parliamentary answers show that the Scottish Government has acted in good faith throughout this process."

The emails also highlight China Railway's UK representative Sir Richard Heygate was unaware of a report by the Norwegian state which blacklisted the firm due to "gross corruption".

An email from a Scottish Government official states Heygate was "was unaware of the issues" and asked "if I could send him a link to the report of the Norwegian ethics council which has been cited in the media and I agreed to do so".

The memorandum of understanding was signed between the Scottish Government and the firms on March 21.