KATHMANDU, July 26: A representative from 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 represent Nepal in the 54-member ECOSOC.

Nepal will be the chair of the Asia-Pacific states next year.

Election of Nepal's representative to the post of vice-president of the ECOSOC, one of the six main organs of the United Nations, is a matter of pride for the nation, said former Ambassador Sundarnath Bhattarai.

The ECOSOC is the platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve socio-economic progress including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The 54-member Council also 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 the member states in achieving the SDGs.

Last year, Nepal was elected a member of the ECOSOC with the highest number of votes from the Asia Pacific region for a three-year term of 2024-2026. -- RSS