In a joint opinion piece, the ambassadors of China and Russia in the United States sharply criticized the democracy summit planned by American President Joe Biden.
Diplomats Qin Gang and Anatoly Antonov wrote in the article published on Friday on the conservative website The National Interest that the summit project was “obviously the product of America's Cold War mentality”.
The event will create new "dividing lines" between the countries of the world.
Democracy can be "realized in different ways," wrote the ambassadors.
There is “no model” that is suitable for all countries.
The democracy summit planned by Biden is to take place as a virtual event from December 9th to 10th.
Representatives from around 110 countries have been invited - China and Russia are not among them.
China is particularly angry about Taiwan's invitation to the summit.
Beijing regards the Pacific island as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland - if necessary by force.
Also on the guest list for the summit are countries whose governments are accused of attacks on democracy, such as Brazil, India and Pakistan.
The EU state Hungary and NATO member Turkey, however, are not invited.