China re-elected to UN Economic and Social Council

(ECNS) -- China was elected Wednesday to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a three-year term starting Jan. 1, 2026.

Seats on the Economic and Social Council are allocated by regional group. In a secret ballot held by the UN General Assembly, 18 countries were elected: Burundi, Chad, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone from Africa; China, India, Lebanon, and Turkmenistan from the Asia-Pacific; Croatia, Russia, and Ukraine from Eastern Europe; Ecuador, Peru, and Saint Kitts and Nevis from Latin America and the Caribbean; and Australia, Finland, Norway, and Türkiye from Western Europe and other states.

In addition, in a by-election for rotation within the Western European and others group, the General Assembly approved Germany to replace Liechtenstein for a one-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and the United States to replace Italy for a two-year term beginning the same date.

ECOSOC is one of the principal organs established via UN Charter. It is responsible for economic, social, development, cultural, and educational matters. The Council consists of 54 members, with one-third of the seats up for election annually.