"Now I'm elected as the WHO's director-general I no longer carry my nationality on my sleeve. I leave it behind," she told reporters after her nomination was endorsed by more than two- thirds of the 193 member states.

The former Hong Kong health chief added: "I will speak up if some member states need to strengthen their effort and in this case if you are referring to China I will definitely speak out and urge China ... to share information."

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Her nomination had prompted calls for independence and transparency at the top of the global health agency, following concern about China's secrecy in tackling infectious disease.

"Being a Chinese national appointed by the WHO as director- general, of all people I hope I will have better access to various senior levels of the government and [tell] them what are issues of importance to the world," Chan explained.

Chan has recently been overseeing the UN health agency's strategy against the growing threat of a new human flu pandemic, which could be triggered by new strains of avian influenza. The director-general-elect told WHO members that international surveillance against emerging infectious diseases like SARS or bird flu had to be backed up by efficient national measures and joint action.

Gao Qiang, China's health minister, said through a translator that his country would improve its cooperation with the health body.

In her acceptance speech to the World Health Assembly, composed of the health ministers of WHO's member countries, Chan emphasized her commitment to the world's needy and to two groups in particular.

"I want us to be judged by the impact we have on the health of the people of Africa and the health of women. Improvements in the health of the people of Africa and the health of women are key indicators of the performance of WHO," she said.

"This is a health organization for the whole world ... But we must focus our attention on the people in greatest need."

Derek Yach, a former WHO executive who now heads global health programs for the Rockefeller Foundation, said: "Chan's appointment coincides with China's political and economic ascendancy.

"It will boost expectations of low- and middle-income countries that their needs and priorities will get support."

Nils Daulaire, an American physician who heads the Global Health Council, a Washington-based advocacy organization, echoed that view, saying: "The message is very clear that China is here on the world stage and it was the appropriate time to recognize that with a senior position at a UN agency."

Chan, 59, joined the WHO three years ago, rising to assistant director- general in charge of communicable diseases.

When she was health chief in Hong Kong in 1997, her services were credited with successfully tackling a first known outbreak of the virulent H5N1 strain of avian influenza by ordering a swift and massive cull of chickens, despite strong opposition to the move. However, her subsequent action to tackle an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003 was criticized in an official report for being weak.

Both diseases are thought to have entered Hong Kong from the mainland.

"SARS was a very important lesson for many countries including China. China has moved on, the world has moved on, but ... in the realm of disease surveillance, there are still weak spots," Chan said Friday.

The new WHO chief is focusing on the health of Africans and of women as the core targets for her mandate from 2007 to 2012. AGENCIES