On July 28, 2006, Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai met with Margaret Chan, China's candidate for Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), former Director of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and WHO Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases.

Cui expressed welcome to Chan, who is now in Beijing to hold discussions with relevant departments of the central government on her running for WHO Director-General. Cui indicated that the central government attaches great importance to this election campaign and will fully support Margaret Chan's candidacy for the position of WHO Director-General.

Chan expressed her appreciation for the central government's strong recommendation and support, vowing she will do her utmost to contribute to world health development if she succeeds in the election campaign.