UN General Assembly's annual debate concludes

The annual debate of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, which witnessed over 130 heads of state and government as well as ministers, stating their views on regional and international affairs, concluded Tuesday.

General Assembly President John Ashe, at the close of the debate, said that the member states were "responsible for the implementation of action by working to create a post-2015 development agenda", Xinhua reported.

"We are the ones responsible for finding common ground. And with the directions and the reference points laid before us this week, it is now up to us to identify our common agenda and move forward on it."

With the theme on "The Post 2015 Development Agenda: Setting the Stage!", the week-long debate, which opened Sep 24, provided heads of state and other senior government officials an opportunity to weigh in on the shape of the world's development strategy for the period after the 2015 deadline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

It also witnessed a host of national and global concerns, such as poverty eradication, climate change, human rights, and a range of peace and security issues, being raised by different members.

Ashe said the fact that virtually every speaker in the debate had pledged full support for the further elaboration by the UN of the post-2015 development agenda "heralds a sense of promise about what is to come over the next year".

He called on the member states to work collectively and creatively during this session.

On Syrian crisis, Ashe said many delegations expressed concerns about the dire humanitarian situation and called for a negotiated solution at the Geneva II Conference.

"They welcomed Syria's decision to adhere to the chemical weapons convention and called for an immediate application of its provisions," he said. "Many welcomed the recent unanimous decision of the Security Council on Syria, but nevertheless called on that body to uphold the rules of the Charter in regards to further action."