World leaders give speeches virtually at 75th UN General Assembly due to COVID-19

Arirang News 2020-09-23

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트럼프 시진핑과 '온라인' 설전, 北은 '패싱'...코로나로 달라진 올해 유엔총회 모습

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many summits to be held online this year, and the UN General Assembly is no exception.
World leaders did come together to mark the 75th anniversary of the UN, but without the massive crowds, handshakes, and kisses on the cheek during the annual frenetic diplomatic bash.
With their faces have been beaming into the hall from thousands of miles away through hundreds of pre-recorded remarks, U.S. President Donald Trump used his message to criticize Beijing, while Chinese leader Xi Jinping praised the World Health Organization.
Yoon Jung-min tells us more.
COVID-19 forced the UN General Assembly to go online this year for the first time in its 75-year history.
In his pre-recorded address to the assembly, U.S. President Trump called COVID-19 the "China virus" and blamed Beijing for allowing it to spread around the world.
Trump added that the UN must hold China accountable for its actions.
"We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China. In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world."
Chinese President Xi Jinping, possibly targeting the U.S., said Beijing is against any attempt to politicize the health issue.
"You should (...)give full play to the leading role of the World Health Organization and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic. Any attempt to politicize the issue or stigmatization must be rejected."
While U.S. President Trump made no mention of North Korea, French President Emmanuel Macron did.
"What we're looking for now is specific gestures of commitment and engagement by North Korea. It needs to commit to a denuclearization process which is complete, verifiable and irreversible."
New York City usually sees traffic jams at this time of year because of road closures and police motorcades for the UN General Assembly.
This year though, there weren't the usual traffic problems as only New York-based diplomats were present at the meeting.
Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

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