Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech via video link during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on September 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
New York: The United Nations has released its report on the 80th session of the General Assembly, which concluded after a week of intense high-level debates and meetings at UN headquarters in New York.
The report highlighted the key topics on the agenda that included the situations in Gaza and Ukraine, climate change, and UN reform.
The session coincided with the UN's 80th anniversary and was presided over by former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the fifth woman to hold the position since the UN's founding.
A total of 12,296 participants - including official delegations and UN agency representatives - attended the high-level week. The General Debate featured 194 speakers: 189 from UN member states, the UN Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, and representatives from the three permanent observers - Palestine, the Holy See, and the European Union.
Four countries - Afghanistan, Myanmar, El Salvador, and Seychelles - were absent. Afghanistan and Myanmar did not attend due to unresolved representation issues; Seychelles cited a scheduling conflict with its national elections, while El Salvador abstained for political reasons. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the Assembly via video after being denied a US visa.
As per tradition dating back to 1955, Brazil opened the General Debate, with the final speech delivered by Timor-Leste's Permanent Representative, Dionisio da Costa Babo Soares.
Speakers included 83 heads of state, six vice presidents, one crown prince, 41 prime ministers, four deputy prime ministers, 54 ministers, and eight heads of delegation.
US President Donald Trump delivered the longest speech of the session, lasting 57 minutes and 16 seconds - far exceeding the 15-minute limit set by Assembly rules.
The shortest speech, at six minutes and 44 seconds, was given by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who addressed UN reform and global challenges.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held 148 bilateral meetings and delivered 20 speeches during the session, including those at the UN's 80th anniversary events and the opening of the General Assembly.
