MFA Spokesman's Comments: Election of Dr Margaret Chan as the next Director-General of the World Health Organisation

In response to press queries, the MFA Spokesman said:

"Singapore warmly welcomes the election of Dr Margaret Chan as the next Director-General of the World Health Organisation and pledges our strong support to work towards strengthening the WHO to tackle challenges ahead. Dr Chan is no stranger to Singapore. She undertook her postgraduate training at the National University of Singapore. Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, who is Singapore's representative to the WHO Executive Board, delivered a statement shortly after Dr Chan's election on behalf of the WHO members in the Western Pacific Region (WPRO)*."

*WHO Members in the Western Pacific Region

1. American Samoa
2. Australia
3. Brunei Darussalam
4. Cambodia
5. China
6. Cook Islands
7. Fiji
8. French Polynesia
9. Guam
10. Hong Kong (China)
11. Japan
12. Kiribati
13. Korea, Republic of
14. Lao People's Democratic Republic
15. Macao (China)
16. Malaysia
17. Marshall Islands
18. Micronesia, Federated States of
19. Mongolia
20. Nauru
21. New Caledonia
22. New Zealand
23. Niue
24. Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of the
25. Palau
26. Papua New Guinea
27. Philippines
28. Pitcairn Islands
29. Samoa
30. Solomon Islands
31. Tokelau
32. Tonga
33. Vanuatu
34. Viet Nam
35. Wallis and Futuna

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
9 NOVEMBER 2006