China's Vice-Finance Minister Li Yong has been elected as the director-general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, or UNIDO. It's the first time a Chinese mainlander has taken a chief position in the UN's specialised agency.

It's the first time for a Chinese mainlander to hold the top position in the UN's Industrial Development Organisation.

Li Yong beat five other candidates from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Thailand, Italy, and Poland.

He is expected to be officially sworn into office, for the four year post, on Friday.

Li said, "It is my honour to be elected. Chinese government has recommended me, it shows its strong support to industrial development. We have many challenges, such as capital problem, and our member countries need more services."

Li is a senior economic and financial policy-maker in China and has been a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Chinese central bank for a decade.

Li said, "We are going to provide more effective services to support different needs from different regions and countries. The most disadvantaged areas need boost in their industrial sectors, middle income countries need improvement of their industrial level."

UNIDO is a special agency of the UN. It aims to promote sustainable industrial development in emerging economies and countries in transition. China joined the organisation in 1973 and has played an active role since. UNIDO has also assisted China's industrial development by introducing advanced technologies and management experience.