Chan currently serves as WHO Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases. The election for new director-general will be in November this year.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said China has been an active player 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.

A resume posted on the WHO website said that Chan obtained her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in Canada. She joined the Hong Kong Department of Health in 1978 and began her career in public health.

In 1994, Chan was appointed Director of Health, the first female director of Hong Kong.

In 2003, Chan 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, according to the WHO website.

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

Chan has systematic and mature thinking of WHO's development, Liu said, adding, "we believe Madam Margaret 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."