UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 29 -- The General Debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday, during which 194 delegations spoke on topics including peace, development, human rights, UN reform and the selection of the next secretary-general, as well as artificial intelligence (AI).

"Across your statements, one word came before all others -- peace. But peace was spoken of less as a distant aspiration than as an urgent defense of the UN Charter, international law and the protection of civilians," General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman said in his closing remarks.

"We heard that the maintenance of peace and security ... meant more than containing violence. It requires prevention, mediation and diplomacy, respe...