China nominates Song Li for WHO chief as agency faces funding shake-up from US exit
Por Cao Jiaxuan — South China Morning Post – News feed
Advertisement World Health Organization (WHO) China Diplomacy China nominates Song Li for WHO chief as agency faces funding shake-up from US exit
If elected, she would be the first mainland Chinese director general of the United Nations health agency
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Cao Jiaxuan in Beijing Published: 7:51pm, 8 Oct 2026 China has nominated health official Song Li to run for director general of the World Health Organization , the foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday.
If elected, Song would be the first person from mainland China to head the United Nations health agency.
China previously backed Margaret Chan, a Hong Kong-born doctor and former director of health of Hong Kong, who served as WHO director general from 2007 to 2017.
Song’s nomination comes as the WHO faces a major funding shake-up following the US withdrawal from the organisation, while China has pledged to increase its financial support. Select Voice Select Speed 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.5x 1.75x 00:00 00:00 1x AI-generated voice
