China has pledged $500 million over five years to the World Health Organization, stepping in as the largest state donor after the United States’ withdrawal from the United Nations health agency.
Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong made the commitment on Tuesday during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The pledge comes as the WHO grapples with its deepest financial crisis in decades, caused by the Trump administration’s decision in January to withdraw from the agency and stop funding. The U.S., previously the largest contributor, left a $600 million shortfall in the organization’s 2025 budget.
