China announced in Beijing on Tuesday that it has decided to recommend Margaret Chan from Hong Kong to run for Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Chan currently serves as WHO Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases. The elections for a new director-general take place in November this year.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said China has been active in international cooperation on health.

"China attaches great importance to the key role of the WHO and hopes to make greater contributions to the development of world health affairs," Liu said.

According to Chan's resume, posted on the WHO website, she obtained her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. Her career in public health began in 1978 when she joined the Hong Kong Department of Health.

In 1994, Chan was appointed Director of Health, Hong Kong's first female health director.

In 2003, Chan joined the WHO as their 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.

Liu said that Chan has profound medical knowledge and a rich experience in public health management and has a thorough understanding of WHO rules, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the global health system.

Further, Chan has a systematic and mature understanding of WHO's development, Liu said, adding: "We believe Madam Chan would help the organization play a more active role in the health sector on the world stage if she were elected WHO Director-General."

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2006)