北京：中国于周四（10月8日）提名一名候选人竞选世界卫生组织总干事，此举可能在今年美国退出该组织后，扩大北京对这一国际机构的影响力。外交部发言人毛宁表示，北京推举妇幼健康专家宋莉角逐该职位。
她称，该提名“体现了中国坚定支持多边主义”，并“将有助于该组织在增进全人类健康福祉方面发挥更积极的作用”。
BEIJING: China nominated a candidate to lead the World Health Organization on Thursday (Oct 8), a move which could expand Beijing's influence over the international body after the United States quit this year. Beijing is putting forward maternity health expert Song Li for the top position, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a The nomination "demonstrates China's firm support for multilateralism" and "will help the organisation play a more active role in enhancing the health and well-being of all humanity", she said.
宋莉将竞逐接替现任总干事谭德塞，后者任期将于2027年8月结束，且因两届任期限制无法再次竞选。
Song Li is in the running to replace incumbent director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus whose term ends in August 2027 and who cannot run again given the two-term limit.
据世卫组织介绍，她是中国国家卫生健康委员会妇幼健康司司长，拥有21年的从业经历。
She is the head of the Department of Women and Child Health at China's National Health Commission, and has a career spanning 21 years, according to the WHO.
宋莉参与或主导制定了多部与妇幼健康相关的法律法规，包括产前诊断和辅助生殖技术等方面。中国的宣布是在该职位9月24日的提名截止日期之后。
Song has participated or organised the formulation of various laws related to women and children's health, including prenatal diagnosis and assisted reproductive technology. China's announcement comes after the Sep 24 deadline for the role.
这为北京提供了一个机会，填补美国总统特朗普在1月连任后宣布美国退出该组织留下的空缺。
It presents Beijing with an opportunity to fill the void left after US President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the organisation upon his reelection in January.
特朗普长期指责世卫组织是中国的“傀儡”，特别是在新冠疫情期间。中国方面此前则指责特朗普试图向世卫组织“推卸责任”。
Trump has long accused the WHO of being a "puppet of China", in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic. China, for its part, previously accused Trump of trying to "shirk responsibility" to the WHO.
宋莉将与卡塔尔、沙特阿拉伯、比利时、西班牙、印度尼西亚和博茨瓦纳提名的候选人（包括三名男性和三名女性）竞争。
Song will run against candidates - including three men and three women - put forward by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Spain, Indonesia and Botswana.
如果当选，她将成为陈冯富珍之后第二位领导世卫组织的中国籍人士，陈冯富珍曾在2007年至2017年担任总干事。作为联合国机构，世卫组织领导全球扩大全民健康覆盖的努力。
If elected, she will be the second Chinese national to lead the WHO after Margaret Chan, who headed the organisation between 2007 and 2017. The WHO, a UN agency, leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage.