China nominates Song Li for WHO chief as agency faces funding shake-up from US exit

China has nominated health official Song Li to run for director general of the World Health Organization, the foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday.If elected, Song would be the first person from mainland China to head the United Nations health agency.China previously backed Margaret Chan, a Hong Kong-born doctor and former director of health of Hong Kong, who served as WHO director general from 2007 to 2017.Song’s nomination comes as the WHO faces a major funding shake-up following the US withdrawal from the organisation, while China has pledged to increase its financial support.