Chinese President Xi Jinping said that no country has the right to dominate global affairs, deepening the U.S.-China rift as the United Nations commemorated its 75th anniversary.

While Xi stopped short of naming a country, his pre-recorded speech followed the same line of China’s recent remarks towards the U.S. amid escalating tensions between the two countries, prompting speculations that his words were directed at America.

Leader of the host country, U.S. President Donald Trump, did not address at the high-level virtual meeting.

Xi called on countries to think about the role of the institution in the post-COVID-19 era and raised four main tasks for the United Nations, namely standing firm for justice, upholding the rule of law, promoting cooperation and focusing on real action.

Calling unilateralism a dead end, he stressed that no country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself, according to Chinese state media Xinhua News Agency.

“Even less should one be allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world,” said Xi.

He added that the representation and voice of developing countries should be increased so that the U.N. could be more balanced in reflecting the interests and wishes of the majority of countries in the world.

The rule of law must be upheld and relations among countries and coordination of their interests must only be based on rules and institutions. “They must not be lorded over by those who wave a strong fist at others,” Xi continued.

“There must be no practice of exceptionalism or double standards. Nor should international law be distorted and used as a pretext to undermine other countries' legitimate rights and interests or world peace and stability.”

Xi also noted that “Cold War mentality, ideological lines or zero-sum game are no solution to a country’s own problems, still less an answer to mankind’s common challenges.” He called on countries to replace conflict with dialogue, coercion with consultation and zero-sum with win-win.

“To put into practice the principle of multilateralism, we must act, not just talk. There must be a cure, not just a therapy,” Xi concluded with an appeal to the United Nations to walk the talk.

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