Nepal elected UN ECOSOC Vice-President

KATHMANDU, JULY 26 : Nepal has been elected as the Vice-President for the Asia-Pacific states of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Lok Bahadur Thapa, Chief of the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in New York, will lead Nepal in the 54-member ECOSOC, with Nepal set to chair the Asia-Pacific states next year. This election is a significant achievement for Nepal, highlighting its growing influence on the international stage.

Former Ambassador Sundarnath Bhattarai remarked that this election to the Vice-President position of ECOSOC is a matter of pride for Nepal. The ECOSOC serves as a key platform for fostering debate, innovative thinking, consensus-building, and coordinating efforts towards socio-economic progress, including the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alongside 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 later.

Thapa has pledged to work closely with all member states to achieve the SDGs. Last year, Nepal was elected as a member of ECOSOC with the highest number of votes from the Asia-Pacific region for a three-year term from 2024 to 2026.