European Council President Charles Michel and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to resume dialogue on human rights.

The two met in person for about three hours in Beijing on Thursday.

The leaders discussed protests that have recently erupted across China over its "zero-COVID" policy, which includes rigid restrictions on people's movement.

At a news conference after the meeting, Michel affirmed peaceful assembly as a fundamental right. China has not disclosed how Xi referred to the issue during the talks.

A spokesperson for Michel said the leader called on China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to help end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

China's foreign ministry said President Xi responded that his country "will remain on the side of peace and continue to play a constructive role in its own way."

Both leaders also reportedly took up Russia's suggestion of potentially using nuclear weapons and agreed that nuclear threats are "irresponsible and highly dangerous."