RESOLUTION: Li Yong, the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), gives his inaugural speech at a special session of the organization's General Conference in Vienna on June 28 (COURTESY OF UNIDO)

Li Yong, the newly elected director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), vows to offer more effective poverty alleviation to developing countries and to support medium-income countries in improving their industrial sectors.

Li took over from Kandeh K. Yumkella and started his four-year term as the 7th head of UNIDO at a special session of the organization's General Conference in Vienna on June 28.

In his inaugural speech, Li said he would lead the organization in tailoring development strategies to ever-changing conditions and would try to raise UNIDO's international status and boost confidence within member countries.

He also noted that the diverse needs of members should be satisfied and more cooperation with other global organizations should be conducted with greater efficiency.

The 61-year-old senior economic and financial policymaker won a majority in the first round of voting by the Development Board of UNIDO on June 24. He has been the Vice Minister of Finance since September 2003 and has worked in many international and regional development agencies.

"The most disadvantaged areas need to boost their industrial sectors, while middle-income countries need to improve their level of industrial development," he said.

Founded in Vienna in 1966, the organization is a specialized UN agency with 172 member countries. Its task is to boost industrialization and sustainable development in developing countries and to offer integrated services to governments, agencies and enterprises in solving their industrial problems with the cooperation of member countries.

China and UNIDO have maintained good relations in the last 40 years. UNIDO has introduced technologies and management experience to China, which has greatly boosted the China's industrialization. China, in turn, has actively took part in UNIDO programs and offered much help.

(Reporting from New York City)