The UN Environment Program (UNEP) on Sunday signed an agreement with China's Shanghai Municipality to promote wildlife protection, green economy ethos and youth engagement with environmental conservation.

Chinese and UNEP officials announced the new partnership during the opening of Green Shanghai Art Photography Exhibition in Nairobi.

"We are delighted to cooperate with Shanghai on initiatives that will push forward the agenda of an inclusive green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication in one of the most influential and populous cities in the world at the hub of one of the most dynamic and rapidly expanding economies, " UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said.

Steiner noted that China's participation is critical to help the world tackle pressing environmental challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, chemical pollution and wildlife poaching.

"As UNEP heads into a new era of universal membership that will enhance our role at the center of the environment, it is hugely encouraging to see China once again demonstrate that it is increasingly evolving its long-standing understanding of the importance of environmental governance," Steiner said.

He hailed China's stewardship in advancing green economy through initiatives such as pollution control and campaign against food waste.

The populous city of Shanghai will offer a strategic platform for popularizing a range of environmental protection themes.

The council is meeting for the first time under universal membership, the first step in the process to strengthen and upgrade UNEP called for at Rio+20 and approved by the UN General Assembly in December 2012.

Shanghai, one of China's most-populous cities with an estimated 24 million inhabitants, pledged to use its considerable resources to sensitize the public to UNEP's work and cooperate with UNEP's youth engagement program, known as Tunza.

It follows on from the establishment of two collaborating centers in Beijing -- the Global Efficient Lighting Center, founded with the Chinese National Lighting Test Center, and the International Ecosystems Management Partnership, established with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. China also pledged 6 million U.S. dollars to UNEP in 2012.

Under new agreement with UNEP, Shanghai Municipality agreed to use large screen displays and posters in the city center to raise awareness on wildlife protection.

Officials disclosed that 53 images will be displayed on large screens to showcase green economy tenets including resource efficiency, climate smart agriculture, ecosystem management and green industry.

The Minister of the Communist Party of China Shanghai committee's publicity department, Yang Zhenwu, said in Nairobi that the metropolis has established structures that will accelerate a greener and prosperous future.

"Shanghai will control the intensity of development, protect ecological space, further promote energy conservation, emission reduction, and environmental protection, reduce energy consumption, establish and improve the long-term system of ecological civilization," Yang said.

He added that Shanghai municipality has championed youth participation in environmental conservation. China has joined community of nations to advance ecologically sensitive development models.

The Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Guangyuan reiterated that China attaches great importance to environmental protection.

"The idea of harmony between humankind and nature is an important component of the traditional values of the Chinese civilization. China has made significant commitment to environmental protection and has achieved remarkable results," said Liu.

He added that China is committed to work with international community to respond to global environmental challenges.