UN Secretary General António Guterres has expressed concern about discrimination and attacks against Asians amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of the world organization noted.

The Secretary General is deeply concerned about the rise in violence against Asians and people of Asian descent during the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement said.

The secretary general drew attention to horrific deadly attacks, verbal and physical violence, bullying in schools, discrimination in the workplace, inciting hatred in the media and social networks, provocative statements by people in power.

Thousands of incidents over the past year have crowned centuries of intolerance, stereotyping, exploitation and violence, Guterres added.