It is the first time Chinese national has been elected to head a specialized U.N. body, Jiang Yu, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said.

The Chinese government fully supports Margaret Chan as the director-general of the WHO, Jiang said, noting that governments of Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions also actively supported.

The WHO on Thursday formally approved China's Dr. Margaret Chan as its new chief, to succeed Dr. Lee Jong-wook of South Korea who died suddenly in May.

Chan is capable, experienced, which left the members of the WHO Executive Board deep impression and wined wide support from WHO member countries, the spokeswoman said.

It is believed that Chan will fully implement her promise and work together with each members for people's health, she said.

Chan, 59, is expected to take office in January for a five-year term. The U.N. agency has been led by Acting Director-General Dr. Anders Nordstrom of Sweden since May.