WASHINGTON (AFP) ― U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called for China to address a “deterioration” of its human rights record as he met activists ahead of a key visit by his Chinese counterpart, the White House said Thursday.

Biden ― the host for next week’s visit by Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who is widely tipped to be the Asian power’s next leader ― met jointly Wednesday with four advocates for human rights.

In the meeting, Biden and the activists “discussed the deterioration of China’s human rights situation, prospects for reform and recommendations for U.S. policy,” a White House statement said.

“The vice president underscored the administration’s belief in the universality of human rights and its commitment to human rights as a fundamental part of our foreign policy,” it said.

“He reiterated his view that greater openness and protection of universal rights is the best way to promote innovation, prosperity and stability in all countries, including China,” it said.

U.S.-based activists widely criticized President Barack Obama’s administration when it took office in 2009 for what they saw as a downplaying of human rights concerns as it sought cooperation with Beijing.

The administration has insisted that human rights are a major U.S. priority.

Obama held a similar meeting with activists before a state visit last year to Washington by President Hu Jintao.

The White House said Biden met Li Xiaorong, a founding member of the group Human Rights in China; Benjamin Liebman, a Columbia University expert on China’s legal system; Zha Jianying, an expert on Chinese media and pop culture, and Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.

Sophie Richardson, who oversees Human Rights Watch’s work on China, said that the Obama administration should meet not just with scholars but with former political prisoners from China.