China has officially nominated senior health official Song Li to run for the position of director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), a move confirming earlier reports. Song would succeed the current director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, whose term is coming to an end.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized China’s confidence that Song Li’s leadership would enable the WHO to play a more proactive role in advancing global health. Mao highlighted the importance of steady progress in health development worldwide and described the director-general’s role as crucial in this regard. He also stressed that China’s nomination reflects its commitment to multilateralism and the goal of fostering a global health community.
China has been seeking to expand its influence in United Nations bodies and other international organizations amid a backdrop of shifting U.S. policy. Under the administration of former President Donald Trump, the United States has scaled back its engagement with the UN and some of its affiliated agencies. The Trump administration repeatedly criticized the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging bias in favor of China—claims that the WHO has consistently denied.
Song Li brings extensive experience in public health, with two decades focused on maternal and child health policy and international cooperation. She has played significant roles in managing responses to several health emergencies in China, including the SARS outbreak, avian influenza episodes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, she served as editor-in-chief of a national COVID-19 prevention and control guideline for maternal and child health in 2020, setting standards to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on vulnerable populations.
The WHO director-general election will be closely watched as member states deliberate over leadership that will shape the organization’s direction amid ongoing global health challenges. Song’s candidacy highlights China’s growing ambitions in international health governance at a time of complex geopolitical tensions and evolving multilateral dynamics.