GENEVA, May 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The World Health Organization's (WHO) 57th annual assembly closed here on Saturday after health ministers worldwide spent six days on ways of tackling key health issues.

    The World Health Assembly (WHA), the supreme decision-making body of WHO, has raised global public health to a new level by resolving to take more action to prevent death and illness resulting from heart disease, diabetes, cancers, road safety, and lack of access to health services as well as from diseases spread by viruses, bacteria and other dangerous microbes.

    Major results of the assembly include global strategies on dietand physical activity, and reproductive health as well as resolutions on HIV/AIDS and road safety.

    "This World Health Assembly clearly raised the bar for improving public health of all people," said WHO Director-General Lee Jong-wook.

    "The Assembly agreed to tackle diseases which can spread from the environment, or from person to person, and also those linked to the foods we eat, the amount we exercise and the safety of our roads. I also welcome the resolve to take action to improve the reproductive health of women and men," he said.

    The 57th WHA, which met from Monday to Saturday, attracted more than 2,000 delegates from WHO's 192 member states as well as those from official observers and non-governmental organizations.

    Invited speakers included former presidents and Nobel Peace Prize winners Kim Dae-jung of South Korea, and Jimmy Carter of the United States, who both spoke about the challenges presented by the growing gap between the world's rich and poor.

    On Monday, the WHA rejected a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer in the WHA, marking the eighth time since 1997 that similar proposals were rejected and Taiwan's attempt to join WHO failed. Enditem