China announced in Beijing?on Tuesday that it has decided
to recommend Margaret Chan from Hong Kong to run for
Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Chan currently serves as WHO Assistant Director-General for
Communicable Diseases. The elections for a new director-general
take place in November this year.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said China has
been active in international cooperation on health.
"China attaches great importance to the key role of the WHO and
hopes to make greater contributions to the development of world
health affairs," Liu said.
According to Chan's resume, posted on the WHO website, she
obtained her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario
in Canada. Her career in public health began in 1978 when she
joined the Hong Kong Department of Health.
In 1994, Chan was appointed Director of Health, Hong Kong's
first female health director.
In 2003, Chan joined the WHO as their Director of the Department
of Protection of the Human Environment.
In June 2005, she was appointed Director of Communicable
Diseases Surveillance and Response as well as Representative of the
Director-General for Pandemic Influenza.
Liu said that Chan has profound medical knowledge and a rich
experience in public health management and has a thorough
understanding of WHO rules, as well as the challenges and
opportunities facing the global health system.
Further, Chan has a systematic and mature understanding of WHO's
development, Liu said, adding: "We believe Madam Chan would help
the organization play a more active role in the health sector on
the world stage if she were elected WHO Director-General."
(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2006)