…Beijing steps up as top donor to the World Health Organisation, urging multilateral cooperation in global health.
By Bunmi Yekini
China has pledged an additional $500 million to the World Health Organisation (WHO) over the next five years, stepping in as a major financial backer as the U.N. health agency grapples with the anticipated withdrawal of funding from the United States.
The announcement came on Tuesday during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, where Liu Guozhong, China’s Vice Premier of the State Council, delivered a speech emphasising the importance of global solidarity in health.
“The world is now facing the impacts of unilateralism and power politics, bringing major challenges to global health security,” Liu told delegates. “Multilateralism is a sure path to addressing difficulties.”
The WHO has been forced to revise down its 2026-2027 budget by 21%, reducing it to $4.2 billion, largely due to financial strain following the withdrawal of U.S. funding—an outcome of the Trump administration’s earlier decisions.
To compensate, the WHO is expected to increase countries’ mandatory contributions by 20% over the next two years. With the new donation, China is poised to become the top state donor to the organisation, although it remains unclear whether the $500 million includes the upcoming fee hike.
The funding commitment marks a significant shift in global health diplomacy and reflects China’s growing influence in international institutions.
The revised budget and funding commitments were up for approval during Tuesday’s assembly. The WHO has not yet clarified the exact allocation of China’s pledge or whether it covers the mandatory fee increases.