Vietnam has been elected to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in the 2016-2018 period.

With 182 approvals among 187 votes, the nation has become one of the 18 new members of the Council. The other members are Afghanistan, Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Chile, the Czech Republic, Guyana, Iraq, Italy, Lebanon, Nigeria, Peru, the Republic of Moldova, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa and the U.S.

High votes manifested Viet Nam's increasing status and achievements in the national development process as well as contributions to the UN in establishing a more advanced and better world.

The event has marked a new progress in the country's independent, self-reliant and active diplomatic policy in international integration as well as her social development and advance. 

The nation officially assumes the post on January 1, 2016 and in the next three years, she will make direct contributions to realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and renew and improve the effectiveness of the UN’s development system.

Earlier, Viet Nam successfully fulfilled its responsibilities as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2008-2009) and a member of the Human Rights Council (2014-2016).

ECOSOC, one of the six main organs of the United Nations established by the UN Charter in 1946, is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as for implementation of the internationally agreed development goals.

It serves as the central mechanism for the activities of the United Nations system and its specialized agencies, and supervises the subsidiary and expert bodies in the economic, social and environmental fields.

VGP