UNITED NATIONS - The general debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly was held Tuesday, with world leaders pondering global issues.
The general debate was themed "The Sustainable Development Goals: a universal push to transform our world."
Barack Obama, making his last appearance before the assembly as U.S. president, reviewed his administration's success in the eight years since his first appearance in 2008 as the global financial crisis was exploding.
"From the depths of the greatest financial crisis of our time, we coordinated our response to avoid further catastrophe and return the global economy to growth," he said.
"Our assistance is helping people feed themselves, care for the sick, power communities across Africa, and promote models of development rather than dependence," he said.
Although the world was less violent and more prosperous by many measures, yet societies were filled with uncertainty, unease and strife, Obama said, calling on countries to press forward with a better model of cooperation and integration.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said while her country recently voted to leave the European Union, it did not mean it was turning inward, adding that her country would be a "confident, strong and dependable partner internationally." (Xinhua)