The UN Security Council holds its first meeting on the coronavirus pandemic on April 9, after weeks of divisions among its five permanent members (Photo: AFP/VNA)

This is the first time the Council has debated COVID-19.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the UN, emphasized the importance of solidarity and multilateral coordination in the current crisis.

Mr. Quy said Vietnam supports the UN’s central role and the UN Secretary General’s efforts, and echoed the Secretary General's call for a ceasefire in world conflicts. He urged the UN to take care of the most vulnerable people – women, children, the elderly, and the disabled – and ensure the safety of UN staff who are helping countries deal with the pandemic.