President Xi Jinping of China addresses attendees during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York, September 28, 2015.[Photo/Agencies]

Backgrounder: General debate of 70th session of UN General Assembly

The general debate of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly kicked off at the general assembly hall of the UN headquarters in New York on Monday.

The assembly is the main deliberative organ of the world body. Comprising all 193 members, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues.

The General Assembly meets in regular session intensively from September to December each year. At the beginning of each regular session, the assembly holds a general debate, often addressed by heads of state and government to express their views on pressing international issues.

About 140 heads of state and government are expected to attend this year's general debate, which is scheduled to last from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. Each speaker has voluntary 15 minutes at the rostrum.

The theme of this year's general debate is "the United Nations at 70 -- a new commitment to action."

Brazil is always the first member state to speak in the general debate since the 10th session of the General Assembly in 1955; the United States as the host country is the second member state to take the floor. For all other member states, the speaking order is based on the level of representation, preference and other criteria such as geographic balance.