China's Minister of Finance Xiang Huaicheng was elected as chairman for the Second Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly that opened Wednesday.
The GEF's two deputy chairpersons are France's deputy environment minister Tokia Saifi and Nigeria's environment minister Imeh Okopido.
The assembly would implement plans and realize commitments made at the Earth Summit 1992 and the Earth Summit 2002 held six weeks ago in Johannesburg, South Africa, Xiang said while addressing the meeting.
As a global forum for environmental protection, development, fundraising and action, the GEF played an irreplaceable role in global environmental protection, he said.
Xiang said he hoped representatives attending the assembly would discuss ways to ensure adequate GEF funds, improve efficiency and coordinate cooperation among GEF sections.
Set up in 1991, the GEF acts as a financial mechanism for channeling aid for environmental protection to developing countries. Held every four years, the GEF Assembly is its top decision-making body.