WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuter) - A human rights group urged the Clinton administration on Wednesday to deny China the "prestige value" of a possible summit meeting in the United States unless Beijing eases up on dissidents.

The group, Human Rights Watch, called on Secretary of State Warren Christopher and his Chinese counterpart, Qian Qichen, to make human rights in China and Chinese-ruled Tibet an "urgent priority" when they meet in New York later on Wednesday to discuss a possible summit and other issues.

"The Clinton administration should extend the 'carrot' of a summit meeting only on the basis of concrete actions by China on human rights," Mike Jendrejczyk, Washington director of Human Rights/Asia, said in a statement.

A summit between President Bill Clinton and President Jiang Zemin would carry "enormous prestige value and would be a major propaganda opportunity for Beijing," the statement said.

U.S. officials have said they hope to arrange a summit in late October, when Jiang is due to be in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly session.

Human Rights Watch said a Chinese crackdown on dissidents has continued since Christopher last met Qian, in Brunei on August 1.