China-backed Chan tops WHO election
7 November 2006
The former Hong Kong director of health, Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun is at the top of a shortlist of five to become the next head of the World Health Organization, the South China Morning Post reported. The China-backed candidate led the way after six rounds of balloting with 32 votes, ahead of Japan's Shigeru Omi with 31, Mexico's Julio Frenk at 30, and the 28 votes each gathered by Kuwait's Kazem Behbehani and Spain's Elena Salgado. "We are happy of course. She had been leading the rounds of election. Obviously she is a very qualified candidate," said China's ambassador to the UN Sha Zukang. "If elected she would be the best in the history of the WHO."