The United Nations has criticized China for failing to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during his visit to Beijing this week.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Thursday she is “disappointed” China welcomed Mr. Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court.

The ICC has charged Mr. Bashir with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Sudan's Darfur region.

Pillay said Thursday that even though China is not an ICC member, Beijing still has a responsibility to ensure the African leader is brought to trial.

China's foreign ministry said this week that it reserves judgement on the ICC's prosecution of Mr. Bashir.

The United Nations says fighting in Darfur has killed some 300,000 people and displaced 2.7 million since 2003.

President Bashir and Chinese President Hu Jintao signed loan and economic cooperation agreements in Beijing on Wednesday.

China is a key arms supplier to Sudan and its biggest purchaser of oil.