The former Hong Kong health chief who is a candidate to head the World Health Organisation believes backing from the city and central governments has given her an advantage over rivals.
Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun's remarks came as Beijing reiterated its confidence in her, saying the government would exhaust every means to get her elected as the UN health agency's director-general.
Speaking in Beijing yesterday, where she met senior central government officials, Dr Chan, who has taken leave from her post as the WHO's assistant director-general for communicable diseases while she seeks the top post, said it was still too early to assess her chances. The votes of 34 WHO members, meeting in November, will decide who gets the job.
Asked if she felt any pressure at the prospect of being the first Chinese citizen to hold the post, she said: 'There are risks in any election, but China has a big advantage. The central government and the [Hong Kong] SAR government can extend our advantage.'
Dr Chan, who appeared to be in a good mood, met Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai , Zhang Xiaoming , deputy director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, and Ministry of Health officials. She will meet Vice-Premier Wu Yi today and arrives in Hong Kong tomorrow.
Mr Cui welcomed Dr Chan's visit and said the central government would put its weight behind her bid to lead the WHO, Xinhua reported.