Alibaba's chairman Jack Ma delivers a speech during the Business 20 (B20) summit banquet in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, September 3, 2016 (XINHUA)

An UN trade body has named Chinese billionaire Jack Ma a special advisor on youth entrepreneurship and small business on September 20, in a bid to promote growth and development around the world.

Ma, one of the richest man in China and the founder of commerce giant Alibaba, will be offering his experience and insight to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad).

The appointment came after Ma represented small businesses in the G20 meetings that took place in China's eastern city of Hangzhou earlier this month. 

Ma also hosted politicians and business leaders at his Alibaba headquarters, which are also in Hangzhou.

Unctad Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said Ma "brings a visionary approach to entrepreneurship, a thirst for learning, and a belief in a better world that make him a perfect match for Unctad."

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2016)