US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday met Chinese leaders for talks that were expected to focus on the global economy, climate change and other international issues, dpa reported.
Clinton was expected to discuss tensions over North Korea with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, following talks with her South Korean counterpart on Friday.
"We want to deepen and broaden our relationship (with China)," Chinese state media quoted Clinton as saying as she began her talks.
She was scheduled to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao later on Saturday.
In an editorial on Friday, the official People's Daily newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party, called Clinton's visit the "grand finale" of her week-long Asian trip, praising her for a pragmatic approach.
But rights groups on Saturday said they were "shocked" by Clinton apparently giving a low priority to concerns over China's human rights record.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other groups said they were worried by Clinton's remarks late Friday in Seoul, where she said the United States would still press China on rights issues.
"But our pressing on those issues can't interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis," she said.
"Amnesty International is shocked and extremely disappointed by US Secretary Clinton's comments that human rights will not be a priority in her diplomatic engagement with China," T Kumar, Amnesty's US advocacy director for the Asia-Pacific, said in a statement.
In Seoul, Clinton called on North Korea to fulfill its nuclear disarmament promises and return to the negotiating table, while warning it against making further threats against South Korea.
"North Korea is not going to get a different relationship with the United States while insulting and refusing dialogue with South Korea," she said after meeting South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung Hwan.
Yu is scheduled to visit Beijing for talks next week.
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