Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrived in New York yesterday for a five-day working visit to the United States.

In conjunction with his visit, Zahid, who is also home minister, will chair a debate at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City today.

The debate is on "Challenges in addressing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, related materials, equipment and technology to non-state actors".

The Security Council consists of 15 members with great powers, including Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China and the United States, which serve as the body's five permanent members.

The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, including Malaysia, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms.

Leadership of the UNSC is rotated among the five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members in alphabetical order.

Malaysia was elected as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the two-year period which began on Jan 1 last year and will end on Dec 31.

The presidency of the UNSC is held by each of the members in turn for one month and Malaysia is holding the rotating presidency of the UNSC for this month.

Zahid was greeted on arrival at his hotel in New York by Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and other Malaysian officials.

This is Zahid's third official visit to the US since he was appointed deputy prime minister in July last year.

- Bernama