Washington: Hillary Clinton called Xi Jinping​ "shameless" as the Chinese President hosted a United Nations summit on women's rights, a gathering the former first lady helped bring to global attention 20 years ago.

Mrs Clinton, campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, took to her Twitter account on Sunday and criticised Mr Xi and China's detention of five prominent women's rights activists earlier this year. Mr Xi was the main host for the summit at the UN on Sunday.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has called Xi Jinping "shameless" for hosting a summit on women's rights. Credit:AP

"Xi hosting a meeting on women's rights at the UN while persecuting feminists? Shameless," Mrs Clinton wrote, attaching a link to a New York Times story about the activists, known as China's Feminist Five.

The women, arrested at separate times, were charged earlier this year with "creating a disturbance" as they planned public campaigns against sexual harassment to coincide with International Women's Day. Most have been freed, but are still considered criminal suspects under Chinese law and, in a letter to the UN, said their activities have been limited and that they continue to face threats.