The International Organization for Standardization has elected Zhang Xiaogang, president of the Chinese Anshan Iron and Steel Group Corp., as president at the 36th ISO General Assembly in Russia's St Petersburg, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Zhang become the first Chinese person to assume the post, indicating China has made a breakthrough by playing a substantive role in the ISO.

Zhang is also the vice-chairman of the World Steel Association and a member of the China Standardization Expert Committee. He also served as president of the China Steel Industry Association from 2007 to 2009.

Founded in 1947, the ISO is the largest and most authoritative international standard-setting body. By the end of 2012, the ISO had developed and published about 20,000 standards, which have played an important role in the world economy and trade.