WASHINGTON - Leading human rights groups called on President Bush Friday to press his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, next week over what they said were widespread abuses in the world's most populous country.
Bush will host Hu at the White House Sept 7. and activists plan to gather some 500 people nearby for an all-day protest over China's treatment of political prisoners, Tibetans, Muslim Uighurs and members of the Falun Gong sect.
"Failing to mention (rights) in a very strong way will give the wrong information to President Hu Jintao that the United States is not concerned about the way Chinese government is treating its own people," Amnesty International official T. Kumar told a news conference in Washington.
"From our analysis there is no improvement in human rights, and in certain areas there is deterioration," he said. He listed recent Chinese crackdowns on media outlets, expression on the Internet and nongovernmental organizations.
Kumar said the U.S. government lobbying on China's human rights situation had diminished as a result of changing priorities since the Sept. 11 attacks, growing U.S.-China business ties and the need for Chinese diplomatic help in dealing with the nuclear weapons programs of North Korea.
In a letter echoing Amnesty's concern that the United States had lowered the priority of rights in dealings with China, Human Rights Watch urged Bush to press Hu on issues including freedom of religion, freedom expression and rule of law.
"While there has been progress in many areas of Chinese life, the human rights situation in China remains dire," the group wrote.
Sources familiar with U.S. planning for Hu's visit say Bush is personally concerned about human rights and especially freedom of worship and will raise those issues with Hu in an agenda largely devoted to North Korea and trade issues.
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