Despite China’s Opposition, UNSC To Finally Meet Next Week For First Discussion On Coronavirus Pandemic

With the Coronavirus killing over 42,000 people globally, the United Nations Security Council is likely to meet for the first time by “next week or before” to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, reports The Hindu.

The development comes after the Dominican Republic assumed the rotating presidency of the powerful 15-nation council for the month of April.

Earlier in March, the UNSC’s presidency was with China, which is a permanent and veto-wielding member of the Council.

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun, who was president of the UNSC for March, had rejected a meet on coronavirus emergency, saying that Beijing does not plan to discuss the situation in the Security Council during its presidency.

He had also said that there was no need to panic over the Coronavirus. It should be noted that the deadly virus originated from Wuhan city in China.

However, with the presidency now going to Dominican Republican for the month of April, the matter is likely to be discussed in the Council soon.

“Yes, as we all know the COVID-19 will be the main topic in the world as we speak. (We are) working on it. It (the meeting) was requested by five or six ambassadors, and we will make it happen...for sure next week or before,” Dominican Republic’s special envoy to UN and UNSC’s President for April Jose Singer said on Wednesday (1 April) during a press briefing.

Singer further said that it is his “understanding” that a meeting of the Council on the Coronavirus pandemic is “being negotiated at the moment right now.”