Coronavirus Stirs Anger at UN Meeting as World Powers Unite For a Virtual Meeting

Kept apart by a devastating pandemic and dispersed across the globe, world leaders convened electronically for an unprecedented high-level meeting, where the UN chief exhorted them to unite and tackle the era’s towering problems: the coronavirus, the “economic calamity” it unleashed and the risk of a new Cold War between the United States and China.

Secretary-General António Guterres speaks from the podium during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York. The UN's first virtual meeting of world leaders started Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from some of the planet's biggest powers, kept at home by the coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at their video gathering this year. (Eskinder Debebe/UN via AP)

US President Donald Trump is seen on a video screen remotely addressing the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters. This year's annual gathering of world leaders at U.N. headquarters will be almost entirely "virtual." Leaders have been asked to pre-record their speeches, which will be shown in the General Assembly chamber, where each of the 193 U.N. member nations are allowed to have one diplomat present. (Image: AP)

Member state flags fly outside the United Nations headquarters during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. (Image: AP)

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a phone screen remotely addressing the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters. (Image: AP)

Representatives of different countries seated several seats apart listen to speakers during during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at UN headquarters in New York. (UNTV via AP)

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is seen on a video screen remotely addressing the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters. (Image: AP)

American Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft arrives for the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at UN headquarters. (Image: AP)

Secretary-General António Guterres speaks during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York. (Eskinder Debebe/UN via AP)

A representative with the United Nations Media Accreditation & Liaison Unit staffs an area reserved for members of the press at United Nations headquarters. (Image: AP)

People applaud after a pre-recorded message was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York. (UNTV via AP)

Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun speaks to reporters at the Chinese Mission to the United Nations in New York. (Image: AP)