A call for human rights to be respected globally was made on Monday by UN Secretary General-elect Antonio Guterres, during a visit to Beijing.

China’s leadership has overseen a sweeping crackdown on activists since President Xi Jinping took power, including detaining or imprisoning dozens of rights lawyers in what the government says is the targeting of criminal acts.

Speaking to reporters with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi by his side, Guterres, without specifically mentioning China, said what was needed was a United Nations that abides by its principles.

“In a world torn by war, a United Nations able to enhance diplomacy for peace,” he said.

“In a world where so many rights are not respected, to make sure that there is an effective combination in human rights, of the civil and political rights and the economic and social rights in a balanced way.”