New York, Safar 29, 1437, December 11, 2015, SPA -- Saudi Permanent Representative to the United Nations Abdullah bin Yahiya Al-Maalami stressed here today, the importance of the social development and the need to confront challenges that hinder efforts to achieve it. This came in a speech he delivered, on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, in a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the World Summit for Social Development. He highlighted the efforts of the GCC countries, in the field of social development, pointing out that the GCC countries initiated since the adoption of the 1995 Social Development Summit, many policies and plans to achieve social development, which aim to build a prosperous society to meet the needs of the generation and future generations, as well. --SPA 00:20 LOCAL TIME 21:20 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w