UN General Assembly: US-China Tensions Flare over Coronavirus

At the annual UN General Assembly in New York, tensions between the US and China came to the fore, with US President Donald Trump accusing China of spreading the coronavirus.

He called for keeping China "accountable" for the pandemic.

In his speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country had "no intention to enter a Cold War with any country".

On a variety of fronts, relations are strained between the two world powers.

The New York summit this year is mostly on a virtual basis, with world leaders delivering pre-recorded speeches.

The new format meant that there was a lack of some of the geopolitical theatre usually on offer at the main UN meeting. A single delegate represented each country and there was no ability for one nation to contradict another.

On a variety of other topics, including trade , technology, Hong Kong and China's treatment of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang Province, tensions are high between the US and China.