The United Nations Security Council met in New York on Friday to discuss joint efforts to combat global challenges.

The virtual gathering, chaired by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, sought to reaffirm support for multilateralism – nation’s working together – and to promote a greater role for the UN in international affairs.

To discuss:

• Victor Gao is a current affairs commentator and Chair Professor at Soochow University.
• Anton Fedyashin is a Russian affairs expert and a professor of history at American University.
• Joel Rubin is former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. 
• Klaus Larres is a Distinguished Professor of History and International Affairs at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Also on Friday, the WHO approved China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, easing the way for developing countries to get access to another much-needed tool to help end the pandemic.

To discuss: 

• William Haseltine is the Chair and President of ACCESS Health International and the author of “Variants — The Shape-Shifting Challenge of COVID-19.”

For More: 

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said the United States was committed to honoring international rules, even as he acknowleded at a U.N. meeting that the United States had in recent years not followed them — a reference to the Trump administration. https://t.co/cUPZaKCfjf

— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) May 7, 2021

China assumes the presidency of the Security Council for the month of May.

Follow @Chinamission2un for updates. https://t.co/NaXBn66Wda pic.twitter.com/F5QUBa2m9A

— United Nations (@UN) May 1, 2021

China’s top priority as UNSC president is addressing the crisis within the United Nations itself, the topic of a high-level meeting later this week.https://t.co/nHM1MueuOg

— The Diplomat (@Diplomat_APAC) May 5, 2021

The World Health Organization gave its authorization for emergency use of a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China's Sinopharm, potentially paving the way for millions of the doses to reach needy countries through a U.N.-backed program. https://t.co/ZJkDBIkI4x

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 7, 2021