BEIJING, China: China nominated a candidate to lead the World Health Organisation on Thursday, a move that could strengthen China’s influence over the global health body after the United States quit this year.
Beijing is putting forward Dr Song Li for the top position, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, adding that the nomination “demonstrates China’s firm support for multilateralism” and “will help the organisation play a more active role in enhancing the health and well-being of all humanity”.
The Candidate
Dr Song is a senior public health official and serves as director-general of the Department of Women and Children’s Health at China’s National Health Commission.
She has more than 20 years of experience in maternal and child health policy and international cooperation.
If elected in the 2027 selection process, she would succeed incumbent WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has served as WHO director-general since 2017.
Song would become the second Chinese national to lead the WHO, following Margaret Chan, who headed the organisation from 2006 to 2017.
Leadership Race
The WHO has kept the definitive list of candidates confidential until regional committee meetings conclude in early November.
Six other contenders from Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Qatar, Botswana, Indonesia and Spain have already publicly declared their candidacies.
Song’s nomination is expected to face scrutiny amid continuing diplomatic tensions over transparency during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also served in 2020 as editor-in-chief of China’s national guidelines for managing maternal and child health during the pandemic.
