Kathmandu: Nepal has been elected as the Vice-President for the Asia-Pacific states of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Lok Bahadur Thapa, Chief of the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in New York, will represent Nepal in the 54-member ECOSOC. Next year, Nepal will serve as the chair of the Asia-Pacific states.

Former Ambassador Sundarnath Bhattarai hailed Nepal's election to the Vice-Presidency of ECOSOC, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, as a significant achievement for the nation. The ECOSOC serves as a crucial platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, building consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve socio-economic progress, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In addition to Nepal, the Council elected two other Vice-Presidents: Krzysztof Szczerski of Poland for Eastern European states and Maritza Chan Valverde of Costa Rica for Latin America and Caribbean states. A Vice-President from the African States regional group will be elected at a later date.

Thapa pledged to work closely with all member states to achieve the SDGs. Nepal's election to ECOSOC Vice-President follows its election as a member of the Council last year with the highest number of votes from the Asia-Pacific region for the 2024-2026 term.