Beijing (CNN) Chinese leader Xi Jinping has taken a veiled swipe at US President Donald Trump the day before the US midterm elections, denouncing a "winner-takes-all" attitude to international trade.

Xi made the remarks during a speech Monday at the opening of the inaugural China International Import Expo in Shanghai, an event designed to demonstrate the country's importance as a destination for foreign goods.

Despite the prominence of the event for China, no senior US government officials attended, further underscoring the strained relationship between the two countries.

Although he never mentioned Trump or the United States by name during his speech, Xi said there was no room for protectionism in international trade.

"Today, with the deepening of economic globalization, 'law of the jungle' and 'winner-takes-all' are a dead end," he said.