The UN General Assembly held on Monday a special session to commemorate the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, with several world leaders praising the king’s efforts in promoting peace and fighting hunger and disease.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the late king’s efforts in developing Saudi Arabia and backing the global fight against hunger. He said “humility” was the last message he received from the late king.

The UN leader said he had discussed with King Abdullah the prospects of restoring the Middle East peace initiative, which the late king had put forward to end the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ban and representatives of different countries observed a minute of silence in honor of the late king.

Representatives from Asian and Western European blocs praised King Abdullah’s role in leading the fight against terrorism.

The US envoy paid tribute to the late king, hailing his efforts in advancing education in Saudi Arabia through the King Abdullah Foreign Scholarship Program.

The US also noted King Abdullah’s leading global role in advancing interfaith dialogue, saying it would “remain a historical legacy.”

In London, meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron said Saudi Arabia has given information which helped save British lives.

He said it was important to maintain a relationship with the Kingdom.