President Joe Biden told the world Tuesday the United States is not seeking a new Cold War with China as he vowed to pivot from post-9/11 conflicts and take a global leadership role on crises from climate to Covid.

Without mentioning China directly, Biden acknowledged increasing concerns about rising tensions between the two nations in his first address before the UN General Assembly.

"The United States is ready to work with any nation that steps up and pursues peaceful resolution to share challenges even if we have intense disagreement in other areas," he told world leaders in New York.

Defending the pullout from Afghanistan, the US commander-in-chief said that America is concentrating on devoting its resources to take on the challenges that hold the key to collective future instead of fighting the “wars of the past”. He told global leaders that issues like the pandemic, climate crisis, terrorism, and managing the shifts in power dynamics should be the focus.

Biden is delivering the speech at a difficult time in his still new presidency after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and a new deal with Australia and the United Kingdom that has angered France, one of America’s oldest European allies.

"We all must advocate the rights of women and girls to pursue their dreams free of violence and intimidation. The future belongs to those who give their people the ability to breathe freely, not those who seek to suffocate their people with 'iron hands'," Biden said.

The president also renewed offer to "return to full' nuclear deal 'if Iran does the same." "We elevated the QUAD partnership with India, Australia and Japan, to take on challenged related to climate and emerging technology," Biden added.