AHENS, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- China's Zhang Mingzhou was elected new president of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), it was announced here Saturday during the celebratory closing ceremony of the 36th IBBY international congress.

Zhang is the first Chinese elected to the top post of the non-profit organization which promotes reading among children worldwide since its establishment in 1953 in Switzerland.

As a non-governmental organization with an official status in UNESCO and UNICEF, IBBY has a policy-making role as an advocate of children's books.

"East meets West around children's books and fairy tales" was the main theme of the three-day congress hosted in Athens, UNESCO World Book Capital for 2018.

Addressing the congress after the introduction of the new members of IBBY's Executive Committee, Zhang expressed confidence that by working together across the globe, the more than 70 IBBY national sections will further help promote understanding and peace through children's books.

Zhang starts his term after helping launch cooperation between IBBY and iRead Foundation, a China-based welfare foundation, which over the past decade has helped promote reading across China.

During congress, IBBY and iRead Foundation signed an agreement for the establishment of the iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award.

Under the deal, iRead Foundation will be for 20 years the sponsor of an award which will be given to two winners every two years.

The candidates for the award, to be launched early next year, will be nominated by IBBY national sections and selected by a jury, Zhang explained.