File photo of US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
China today criticised Hillary Clinton calling her "biased", after the US Democratic presidential candidate accused President Xi Jinping of hypocrisy for hosting a UN event championing women's rights while punishing feminists in his own country.
"China protects interests of citizens and rights in accordance with the law. Some people hold biased opinions against China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei told a media briefing replying to question on Ms Clinton's comments.
Citing China's arrest of five feminists in March for campaigning against sexual harassment, Ms Clinton called Mr Xi Jinping's presence at the summit "shameless."
"Xi hosting a meeting on women's rights at the UN while persecuting feminists? Shameless," Ms Clinton tweeted yesterday, CNN reported.
Although China released them on bail 37 days later, their ordeal continues. The five women are subject to surveillance for a year, their activities restricted, and police can call them in for questioning at any time, the report said.
Hong lauded the success of the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment held yesterday at the UN headquarters co-hosted by President Xi.
Around 100 representatives, including 80 heads of state and government, attended the meeting, where they made concrete commitments to overcome gender equality gaps, Mr Hong said.
At the meeting, President Xi made a four-point proposal on women's rights worldwide, including striving for women's development in tandem with social and economic progress, protecting women's rights and interests, jointly building harmonious and inclusive societies and fostering a global environment conducive to women's development.
He also announced a $10 million donation to UN Women, the agency promoting women's rights, to implement the Beijing Declaration and its Platform for Action and the realisation of related goals in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.