Rights groups accuse Beijing of abuses, including forced labour, mass surveillance and having placed 1 million or more Uighurs - a mainly Muslim ethnic group - in a network of internment camps in Xinjiang.

While the passage of the bill does not compel Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to follow the proposal, the undivided support is likely to put pressure on his minority government to take action.

The event raised political dilemmas for many poor countries in the 47-member council who are loath to publicly defy China for fear of jeopardising investment.

Rights groups accuse Beijing of abuses against Uighurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that numbers around 10 million in the western region of Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labour in internment camps.

The findings were 'based on an independent assessment of available information', the United Nations special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery said in a report that was shared on Twitter.

Three diplomats and a rights expert say China began circulating the letter among diplomatic missions in Geneva from late June and asked countries to sign it to show their support.

The trip marks Xi's first public appearance since he visited Hong Kong for the July 1 anniversary marking 25 years of Chinese rule over the former British colony.

The files, obtained by academic Adrian Zenz, were published as UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet begins a long-awaited and controversial trip to Xinjiang.

Michelle Bachelet has long sought access to the western Chinese region to investigate accusations of abuse against ethnic Uighurs.

China denies genocide or the existence of forced labour camps in Xinjiang and has accused Uighurs testifying overseas about conditions inside the northwestern region of being paid liars.

American companies are now prohibited from selling equipment to Chinese firms which contribute to repression of Muslims in Xinjiang.

His comments came after the sportswear giant was recently hit by a backlash over statements about Uighurs and cotton production in Xinjiang.