China considers
the role played by the World Health Organization (WHO) is very
important and the Chinese government will fully support Margaret
Chan's candidacy for the position of WHO Director-General, Chinese
Vice Premier
Wu Yi said.
Wu made the remark when she met with Chan Saturday at Beidaihe,
a summer seaside resort in northern China's Hebei Province.
"China is willing to make a bigger contribution to world health
development and recommends you run for the position of WHO
Director-General as China's candidate", Wu told Chan, stressing
that China considers Chan's leadership skills, sense of
responsibility, professional background and devotion to health
issues give her the right profile for the post.
"As a female candidate, I believe you have some advantages in
this election", Wu added.
Margaret Chan expressed her appreciation for the central
government's trust and support, vowing she will do her utmost to
promote world health development if she succeeds in the election
campaign.
Chan currently serves as WHO Assistant Director-General for
Communicable Diseases. The election for Director-General will take
place in November this year.
In 1994, Chan was appointed the first female Director of Health
in Hong Kong. In 2003, she joined the WHO and worked as WHO's
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.
(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2006)