By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS – U.N. secretary-general Antonio Guterres stated to Chinese leaders that he expected the authorities to grant Michelle Bachelet, U.N. chief for human rights, a “credible trip” to China, according to the United Nations.

A U.N. reading of the meeting shows that Guterres was able to meet with China’s President Xi Jinping, and the Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Bachelet long sought to access Xinjiang in order to examine allegations of Uyghur abuse. This issue has strained relations between Beijing, China and the West. It led to accusations of genocide by Washington as well as a diplomatic boycott of some Winter Olympics host countries by the U.S.

According to the U.N. report of Guterres’ meetings, “The Secretary General… expressed his hope that the contacts between China’s High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR) will permit for a credible visit by the High Commissioner China,”

According to Bachelet’s Geneva office, talks are ongoing regarding a potential trip to northwestern China.

China is accused by rights groups of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, and other minorities, such as forced labor, torture and the detention of over 1,000,000 people in internment camp camps.

China describes them as “re-educational and training facilities”, denies that they are abusive, and insists it is fighting religious extremism.

During meetings with Xi & Wang, Guterres also addressed Afghanistan and climate change.

The U.N. released a statement saying that “The Secretary General recognized China’s efforts in addressing climate change, but reiterated his appeal to make additional efforts to speed up the transition to a green economy to reduce the emission gap.” 

Guterres traveled from New York to Beijing for the opening ceremony. With the Olympic flame cask lighting by two young Chinese Olympians (one of which is a member China’s Uyghur minority), the ceremony ended.