China nominates Song Li to succeed Tedros as WHO director-general

Yesterday 15:40

By: Azzat Manal

China nominates Song Li to succeed Tedros as WHO director-general

China has entered the race to lead the World Health Organization (WHO), putting forward Song Li as its candidate to succeed current Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus when his term ends in August 2027. The announcement adds a new dimension to the leadership transition at the United Nations health agency, whose next chief will help shape international responses to public health emergencies and ongoing health challenges.

Beijing has presented the nomination as part of its commitment to multilateral cooperation and stronger international collaboration on health issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the country remained committed to the United Nations and the WHO, arguing that international institutions and cooperation were facing growing pressure. She described Song Li’s candidacy as an opportunity to work with countries and partners toward shared global health objectives.

The nomination also reflects China’s efforts to play a more prominent role in international health diplomacy. As one of the world’s largest countries by population and a major contributor to global health initiatives, China has an interest in debates over how the WHO sets priorities, coordinates responses to disease outbreaks and supports health systems worldwide. The nomination, however, will ultimately be assessed through the organization’s established selection process and by its member states.

Song Li is a senior official within China’s National Health Commission. Information cited in connection with her candidacy indicates that she has 21 years of professional experience. Her nomination places a Chinese health-sector official among the potential contenders for one of the most influential positions in global public health, although the outcome will depend on the support she can secure from WHO member states.

The leadership selection process began in April 2026, with September 24 set as the deadline for submitting nominations, according to the report. China’s public announcement came later, drawing attention to the approaching contest. The process is designed to give member states a role in identifying candidates before the final decision is made by the World Health Assembly.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has led the WHO since 2017 and was re-elected in 2022 for a second five-year term. During his tenure, the organization has continued to coordinate international public health efforts, including work on infectious diseases, emergency preparedness, vaccination and access to essential healthcare. Its leadership has also faced scrutiny over the agency’s response to health crises and the balance between national interests and collective action.

Under the WHO’s selection procedure, the organization’s Executive Board is expected to narrow the field to a maximum of three candidates. Those nominees will then be presented to the World Health Assembly, which is scheduled to make the final choice in May 2027. The selected candidate will take over the leadership of the agency after Tedros’s term concludes.

The next director-general will inherit a complex international health landscape, including the need to strengthen preparedness for future outbreaks, address inequalities in access to medical services and sustain cooperation among countries with differing political and economic priorities. The WHO also faces continuing questions about funding, institutional effectiveness and the implementation of international health agreements.

China’s nomination therefore introduces another candidate into a process with implications beyond the appointment itself. The decision will help determine the WHO’s leadership and priorities for the coming years, at a time when international coordination remains central to addressing health risks that cross national borders.