China has officially nominated senior health official Song Li as its candidate for Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), adding another contender to the race to succeed current WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Key Highlights
- China has nominated Song Li to contest for WHO Director-General.
- Song is a senior official at China’s National Health Commission.
- She has about 21 years of experience in women and children’s health policy.
- Her career includes work on SARS, bird flu and the COVID-19 pandemic.
- If elected, Song would become only the second Chinese national to lead the WHO.
- She faces candidates from Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Qatar, Botswana, Indonesia and Spain.
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is due to leave office in August 2027 after serving two terms.
China Officially Nominates Song Li
China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Song Li’s nomination on Thursday, October 8, 2026, following reports that Beijing was preparing to enter the WHO leadership contest.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the nomination reflected China’s commitment to multilateralism and its desire to contribute further to global health cooperation.
Mao said China believes Song’s leadership could help the WHO play a more active role in improving health and well-being around the world.
“The development of global health has a long way to go. The role of the director-general of WHO is particularly important in how to make steady progress,” Mao said.
Who Is Song Li?
Song is a senior public health official who heads the Department of Women and Child Health at China’s National Health Commission.
According to information provided by the WHO, she has approximately 21 years of experience in women and children’s health policy and international cooperation.
Her professional work has included involvement in the development of policies and laws covering areas such as prenatal diagnosis and assisted reproductive technology.
She has also participated in China’s response to several major public health emergencies, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), bird flu outbreaks and the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Song served as editor-in-chief of a prevention and control question-and-answer publication focused on women and children, providing guidance on maternal and child health during the pandemic.
Song Could Become Second Chinese WHO Director-General
If elected, Song would become only the second Chinese national to head the WHO.
She would follow Margaret Chan, who served as the organisation’s Director-General from 2007 to 2017.
Her nomination comes at a critical period for the global health agency, which has been undergoing financial and organisational changes amid uncertainty over international funding and participation.
The United States, under President Donald Trump, has repeatedly criticised the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused the organisation of being too favourable towards China. The WHO has rejected accusations of bias.
China has continued to advocate for a stronger role in international organisations and has announced additional financial support for the WHO.
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Six Other Candidates in WHO Leadership Race
Song will face competition from candidates put forward by other countries.
Six candidates from Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Qatar, Botswana, Indonesia and Spain have already publicly disclosed their bids for the position.
The WHO is expected to publish the complete list of candidates after the remaining regional committee meetings, which are expected to conclude in early November.
When Will Tedros Leave Office?
The WHO Director-General oversees the organisation’s work on global health priorities, including disease prevention, health emergencies, universal health coverage and international health cooperation.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has led the organisation since 2017 and is serving his second term. Under the WHO’s two-term limit, he is not eligible for another term.
His tenure is scheduled to end in August 2027, making the upcoming election critical for the future direction of the global health agency.
The next WHO Director-General will take charge at a time when the organisation faces major challenges, including funding pressures, global health emergencies and efforts to strengthen international preparedness for future pandemics.
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