Nepal has been elected chairman to chair the United Nations, 58th Convention for the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from May 22.

Vice chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr Narayan Khadka will lead a Nepalis minister level delegation at the convention, which is scheduled from May 22, according to NPC secretariat. Nepal is elected for the first time after 1985 to chair the convention.

The convention will discuss among others the state of sustainable economic and social development of Asia and the Pacific, the increasing momentum of globalisation and its challenges, opportunities and policy management and use of information and communication technology (ICT).

Similarly, the convention is expected to be instrumental in the development of the overall socio-economic aspects of Asia and the Pacific because of exchange of views and discussions on important areas including regional economic cooperation, development of environment and natural resources, poverty alleviation, infrastructure and tourism development.