The Group of Asia and the Pacific Small Island Developing States (often shortened as Asia and the Pacific or Asia–Pacific Group) is one of the five United Nations regional groups and is composed of 54 Member States from Asia and Oceania.
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Formation | 1964 |
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Type | Regional group |
Legal status | Active |

The Group, as with all the regional groups, is a non-binding dialogue group where subjects concerning regional and international matters are discussed. Additionally, the Group works to help allocate seats on United Nations bodies by nominating candidates from the region.
Member States
The following are the Member States of the Asia and the Pacific Group:
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Cyprus
Fiji
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nauru
Nepal
North Korea
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
State of Palestine
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Qatar
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Syria
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Viet Nam
Yemen
History
Initially, the Group was known as the Asian Group. However, by the 1970s, Pacific island nations were gaining independence and joining the group. By the mid-2000s the number of Pacific island nations in the group had reached over one fifth of the membership, so they began to advocate for a change of name of the Group.
These efforts were met with success in 2011 when the United Nations agreed to include "Pacific" in the name of the Group, changing it to the Group of Asia and the Pacific Small Island Developing States at China's insistence. This change in name recognises the growing role Pacific island nations play in the United Nations System.
Representation
Security Council
The Asia and the Pacific Group holds 3 seats on the Security Council, 2 non-permanent and 1 permanent. The current members of the Security Council from the Group are:
Country | Term |
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![]() | Permanent |
![]() | 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2025 |
![]() | 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2024 |
Economic and Social Council
The Asia and the Pacific Group holds 11 seats on the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The current members of the Economic and Social Council from the Group are:
Country | Term |
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![]() | 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2023 |
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![]() | 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2024 |
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![]() | 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022 |
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Human Rights Council
The Asia–Pacific Group holds 13 seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council. The current members of the Economic and Social Council from the Group are:
Country | Term |
---|---|
![]() | 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2023 |
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![]() | 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2021 |
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![]() | 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022 |
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Presidency of the General Assembly
Every five years in the years ending in 1 and 6, the Asia–Pacific Group is eligible to elect a president to the General Assembly.
The following is a list of presidents from the region since its official creation in 1963:
Year Elected | Session | Name of President | Country | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
1966 | 21st | Abdul Rahman Pazhwak | ![]() | Also chaired the 5th and 6th emergency special sessions of the General Assembly |
1971 | 26th | Adam Malik | ![]() | |
1976 | 31st | H. S. Amerasinghe | ![]() | |
1981 | 36th | Ismat T. Kittani | ![]() | Also chaired the 7th and 9th emergency special sessions and the 12th special session of the General Assembly |
1986 | 41st | Humayun Rasheed Choudhury | ![]() | Also chaired the 14th special session of the General Assembly |
1991 | 46th | Samir S. Shihabi | ![]() | |
1996 | 51st | Razali Ismail | ![]() | Also chaired the 10th emergency special and 19th special sessions of the General Assembly |
2001 | 56th | Han Seung-soo | ![]() | Also chaired the 10th emergency special session of the General Assembly |
2006 | 61st | Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa | ![]() | Also chaired the 10th emergency special session of the General Assembly |
2011 | 66th | Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser | ![]() | |
2016 | 71st | Peter Thomson | ![]() | |
2021 | 76th | Abdulla Shahid | ![]() | |
Future | ||||
2026 | 81st | TBD | TBD | |
2031 | 86th | TBD | TBD | |
2036 | 91st | TBD | TBD |
Timeline of membership
As the Group of Asia and The Pacific Small Island Developing States changed significantly over time, the number of its members had also changed.
Years | Number of members | Notes |
---|---|---|
1966-1967 | 25 | Afghanistan, Burma (now Myanmar), Cambodia, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Cyprus, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Yemen |
1967-1970 | 26 | South Yemen |
1970-1971 | 27 | Fiji |
1971 | 28 | China |
1971-1974 | 33 | Bahrain, Bhutan, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates |
1974-1975 | 34 | Bangladesh |
1975-1976 | 35 | Papua New Guinea |
1976-1977 | 36 | Samoa |
1977-1978 | 37 | Vietnam |
1978-1981 | 38 | Solomon Islands |
1981-1984 | 39 | Vanuatu |
1984-1990 | 40 | Brunei |
1990-1991 | 39 | Yemeni unification |
1991-1992 | 43 | Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea |
1992-1994 | 48 | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
1994-1999 | 49 | Palau |
1999-2000 | 51 | Nauru, Tonga |
2000-2002 | 52 | Tuvalu |
2002-2024 | 53 | Tuvalu |
2024-present | 54 | Kiribati |
See also
- United Nations Regional Groups
- List of members of the United Nations Security Council
- List of members of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
References
- "Funding Trends". OHCHR. Retrieved 24 Dec 2024.
- Ozawa, Toshiro (11 December 2023). "On Pursuing UN Security Council Reform". JIAA.
- "Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia. n.d. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- Agam, Hasmy; Sam Daws; Terence O'Brien; Ramesh Takur (26 March 1999). What is Equitable Geographic Representation in the Twenty-First Century (PDF) (Report). United Nations University. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
- "Regional groups of Member States". United Nations Department for General Assembly and Conference management. United Nations. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- United Nations Handbook 2018–19 (PDF) (56 ed.). Wellington: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. 2018. pp. 15–17. ISSN 0110-1951. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
- Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. "Status of Palestine at the United Nations". United Nations. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2010.: "On 2 April 1986, the Asian Group of the U.N. decided to accept the PLO as a full member."
- "A/RES/60/251".
- "Asian group of nations at UN changes its name to Asia-Pacific group". Radio New Zealand. Wellington. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- "UN Recognises The Pacific With Name Change". Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme. 3 September 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- "Current Members". United Nations Security Council. United Nations. n.d. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- "General Assembly Elects Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Tunisia, Viet Nam as Non-Permanent Members of Security Council for 2020-2021". United Nations Meetings Coverage & Press Releases. United Nations. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- "Members". United Nations Economic and Social Council. United Nations. n.d. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- "General Assembly Elects 19 Economic and Social Council Members to Terms Beginning 1 January 2020, Adopts Resolution Commemorating Signing of United Nations Charter". United Nations Meetings Coverage & Press Releases. United Nations. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- "Current Membership of the Human Rights Council, 1 January - 31 December 2019 by regional groups". United Nations Human Rights Council. United Nations. n.d. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- "General Assembly Elects 14 Member States to Human Rights Council, Appoints New Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services". United Nations Meetings Coverage & Press Releases. United Nations. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- Wanza, Serah N. (27 November 2017). "What Are The Five Regional Groups of the United Nations?". Worldatlas. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- "Past Presidents". United Nations General Assembly. United Nations. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- Agam, Hasmy; Sam Daws; Terence O'Brien; Ramesh Takur (26 March 1999). What is Equitable Geographic Representation in the Twenty-First Century (PDF) (Report). United Nations University. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- Padelford, Norman J. “Politics and the Future of ECOSOC.” International Organization, vol. 15, no. 4, 1961, pp. 564–80. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2705552. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.
- Bailey, Sydney D. “China and the United Nations.” The World Today, vol. 27, no. 9, 1971, pp. 365–72. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40394545. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Notes
- Permanent member of the United Nations Security Council
- Formerly known as Burma until 1989.
- While the State of Palestine is only a non-member observer state in the General Assembly, it has participated fully in the Asia Group since 2 April 1986 as the Palestine Liberation Organization.
- Turkey participates the Western European And Others Group, as well as the Asian Group, but for electoral purposes it is considered a member of Western European And Others Group.
- The Republic of China never joined the Asian Group.
External links
- Records of the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) (2002-present) at the United Nations Archives
- The Regional Groups via the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management
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The Group of Asia and the Pacific Small Island Developing States often shortened as Asia and the Pacific or Asia Pacific Group is one of the five United Nations regional groups and is composed of 54 Member States from Asia and Oceania Group of Asia and the Pacific Small Island Developing StatesFormation1964 61 years ago 1964 TypeRegional groupLegal statusActivePolitics portal The Asia and the Pacific Group Member States The Group as with all the regional groups is a non binding dialogue group where subjects concerning regional and international matters are discussed Additionally the Group works to help allocate seats on United Nations bodies by nominating candidates from the region Member StatesThe following are the Member States of the Asia and the Pacific Group Afghanistan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Cyprus Fiji India Indonesia Iran Iraq Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Marshall Islands Micronesia Mongolia Myanmar Nauru Nepal North Korea Oman Pakistan Palau State of Palestine Papua New Guinea Philippines Qatar Samoa Saudi Arabia Singapore Solomon Islands South Korea Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand Timor Leste Tonga Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vanuatu Viet Nam YemenHistoryInitially the Group was known as the Asian Group However by the 1970s Pacific island nations were gaining independence and joining the group By the mid 2000s the number of Pacific island nations in the group had reached over one fifth of the membership so they began to advocate for a change of name of the Group These efforts were met with success in 2011 when the United Nations agreed to include Pacific in the name of the Group changing it to the Group of Asia and the Pacific Small Island Developing States at China s insistence This change in name recognises the growing role Pacific island nations play in the United Nations System RepresentationSecurity Council The Asia and the Pacific Group holds 3 seats on the Security Council 2 non permanent and 1 permanent The current members of the Security Council from the Group are Country Term China Permanent Republic of Korea 1 January 2024 31 December 2025 Japan 1 January 2023 31 December 2024 Economic and Social Council The Asia and the Pacific Group holds 11 seats on the United Nations Economic and Social Council The current members of the Economic and Social Council from the Group are Country Term Indonesia 1 January 2021 31 December 2023 Japan Solomon Islands Afghanistan 1 January 2022 31 December 2024 India Oman Kazakhstan Bangladesh 1 January 2020 31 December 2022 China Republic of Korea Thailand Human Rights Council The Asia Pacific Group holds 13 seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council The current members of the Economic and Social Council from the Group are Country Term China 1 January 2021 31 December 2023 Nepal Pakistan Uzbekistan Bahrain 1 January 2019 31 December 2021 Bangladesh Fiji India Philippines Indonesia 1 January 2020 31 December 2022 Republic of Korea Japan Marshall Islands Presidency of the General Assembly Every five years in the years ending in 1 and 6 the Asia Pacific Group is eligible to elect a president to the General Assembly The following is a list of presidents from the region since its official creation in 1963 Year Elected Session Name of President Country Note 1966 21st Abdul Rahman Pazhwak Afghanistan Also chaired the 5th and 6th emergency special sessions of the General Assembly 1971 26th Adam Malik Indonesia 1976 31st H S Amerasinghe Sri Lanka 1981 36th Ismat T Kittani Iraq Also chaired the 7th and 9th emergency special sessions and the 12th special session of the General Assembly 1986 41st Humayun Rasheed Choudhury Bangladesh Also chaired the 14th special session of the General Assembly 1991 46th Samir S Shihabi Saudi Arabia 1996 51st Razali Ismail Malaysia Also chaired the 10th emergency special and 19th special sessions of the General Assembly 2001 56th Han Seung soo Republic of Korea Also chaired the 10th emergency special session of the General Assembly 2006 61st Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa Bahrain Also chaired the 10th emergency special session of the General Assembly 2011 66th Nassir Abdulaziz Al Nasser Qatar 2016 71st Peter Thomson Fiji 2021 76th Abdulla Shahid Maldives Future 2026 81st TBD TBD 2031 86th TBD TBD 2036 91st TBD TBDTimeline of membershipAs the Group of Asia and The Pacific Small Island Developing States changed significantly over time the number of its members had also changed Years Number of members Notes 1966 1967 25 Afghanistan Burma now Myanmar Cambodia Ceylon now Sri Lanka Cyprus India Indonesia Iran Iraq Japan Jordan Kuwait Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Nepal Pakistan Philippines Saudi Arabia Singapore Syria Thailand Yemen 1967 1970 26 South Yemen 1970 1971 27 Fiji 1971 28 China 1971 1974 33 Bahrain Bhutan Oman Qatar United Arab Emirates 1974 1975 34 Bangladesh 1975 1976 35 Papua New Guinea 1976 1977 36 Samoa 1977 1978 37 Vietnam 1978 1981 38 Solomon Islands 1981 1984 39 Vanuatu 1984 1990 40 Brunei 1990 1991 39 Yemeni unification 1991 1992 43 Marshall Islands Micronesia Federated States of Democratic People s Republic of Korea Republic of Korea 1992 1994 48 Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan 1994 1999 49 Palau 1999 2000 51 Nauru Tonga 2000 2002 52 Tuvalu 2002 2024 53 Tuvalu 2024 present 54 KiribatiSee alsoUnited Nations Regional Groups List of members of the United Nations Security Council List of members of the United Nations Economic and Social CouncilReferences Funding Trends OHCHR Retrieved 24 Dec 2024 Ozawa Toshiro 11 December 2023 On Pursuing UN Security Council Reform JIAA Latin American and Caribbean Group GRULAC Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia n d Retrieved 28 February 2019 Agam Hasmy Sam Daws Terence O Brien Ramesh Takur 26 March 1999 What is Equitable Geographic Representation in the Twenty First Century PDF Report United Nations University Retrieved 27 February 2019 Regional groups of Member States United Nations Department for General Assembly and Conference management United Nations Retrieved 26 August 2024 United Nations Handbook 2018 19 PDF 56 ed Wellington Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand 2018 pp 15 17 ISSN 0110 1951 Archived from the original PDF on 2019 01 25 Retrieved 2019 02 27 Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations Status of Palestine at the United Nations United Nations Archived from the original on 6 June 2011 Retrieved 9 December 2010 On 2 April 1986 the Asian Group of the U N decided to accept the PLO as a full member A RES 60 251 Asian group of nations at UN changes its name to Asia Pacific group Radio New Zealand Wellington 1 September 2011 Retrieved 26 February 2019 UN Recognises The Pacific With Name Change Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme 3 September 2011 Retrieved 26 February 2019 Current Members United Nations Security Council United Nations n d Retrieved 26 February 2019 General Assembly Elects Estonia Niger Saint Vincent and Grenadines Tunisia Viet Nam as Non Permanent Members of Security Council for 2020 2021 United Nations Meetings Coverage amp Press Releases United Nations 7 June 2019 Retrieved 1 January 2020 Members United Nations Economic and Social Council United Nations n d Retrieved 26 February 2019 General Assembly Elects 19 Economic and Social Council Members to Terms Beginning 1 January 2020 Adopts Resolution Commemorating Signing of United Nations Charter United Nations Meetings Coverage amp Press Releases United Nations 14 June 2019 Retrieved 1 January 2020 Current Membership of the Human Rights Council 1 January 31 December 2019 by regional groups United Nations Human Rights Council United Nations n d Retrieved 26 February 2019 General Assembly Elects 14 Member States to Human Rights Council Appoints New Under Secretary General for Internal Oversight Services United Nations Meetings Coverage amp Press Releases United Nations 17 October 2019 Retrieved 1 January 2020 Wanza Serah N 27 November 2017 What Are The Five Regional Groups of the United Nations Worldatlas Retrieved 26 February 2019 Past Presidents United Nations General Assembly United Nations Retrieved 26 August 2024 Agam Hasmy Sam Daws Terence O Brien Ramesh Takur 26 March 1999 What is Equitable Geographic Representation in the Twenty First Century PDF Report United Nations University Retrieved 5 March 2019 Padelford Norman J Politics and the Future of ECOSOC International Organization vol 15 no 4 1961 pp 564 80 JSTOR http www jstor org stable 2705552 Accessed 24 Mar 2024 Bailey Sydney D China and the United Nations The World Today vol 27 no 9 1971 pp 365 72 JSTOR http www jstor org stable 40394545 Accessed 28 Apr 2024 NotesPermanent member of the United Nations Security Council Formerly known as Burma until 1989 While the State of Palestine is only a non member observer state in the General Assembly it has participated fully in the Asia Group since 2 April 1986 as the Palestine Liberation Organization Turkey participates the Western European And Others Group as well as the Asian Group but for electoral purposes it is considered a member of Western European And Others Group The Republic of China never joined the Asian Group External linksRecords of the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management DGACM 2002 present at the United Nations Archives The Regional Groups via the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management