Taipei, Oct 9:
China has nominated senior health official Song Li to lead the World Health Organisation (WHO), signalling Beijing’s bid to strengthen its presence in international institutions as member states prepare to select the organisation’s next director-general.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced the nomination on Thursday, saying it reflected China’s willingness to work with other countries to promote global health and its support for multilateralism. The nomination comes as governments begin competing for the leadership of the United Nations health agency.
Song is a senior public health official who has been involved in responses to major health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the SARS outbreak. Her areas of expertise include maternal and child healthcare policies and international cooperation, according to her official biography.
The next WHO director-general will succeed Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is completing his second five-year term and cannot seek another term under the organisation’s rules. The election process is expected to culminate at the World Health Assembly in May 2027, with the new director-general’s term scheduled to begin on August 15, 2027.
Song faces competition from candidates announced by several other countries. They include Qatar’s Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Saudi Arabia’s Hanan Balkhy, Belgium’s Hans Kluge, Spain’s María Neira, Indonesia’s Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Botswana’s Gevorg Tamamyan.
The WHO Executive Board is expected to review the candidates at its meeting in early 2027 and nominate up to three for consideration by member states at the World Health Assembly. The process will determine who leads the organisation at a time when global health systems face challenges ranging from infectious disease outbreaks and unequal access to healthcare to funding pressures and the need for international coordination.
China has sought a greater role in United Nations institutions in recent years. Chinese nationals have previously headed several UN organisations simultaneously, although the number currently led by Chinese officials is lower. Qu Dongyu, who heads the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome, is among the prominent Chinese nationals serving in a leadership role within the UN system.
The WHO leadership contest is likely to attract close attention as governments weigh candidates’ public health experience, diplomatic abilities and approaches to international cooperation. The outcome will shape the organisation’s priorities and its response to health emergencies worldwide.