World Health Assembly Adopts “Pandemic Accord”; China Pledges $500 Million to WHO (AI Translation)

世界卫生大会通过“大流行协定” 中国向WHO认捐5亿美元

The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 19 to May 27, 2024, is marked by the notable absence of the United States, which, for the first time since 1948, is not participating. This historic withdrawal follows Donald Trump’s announcement in January 2025—on his first day back in office—of the United States’ exit from the World Health Organization (WHO) and an immediate halt to all financial contributions. The U.S., previously the WHO’s largest donor, left a major funding gap of $600 million for the 2025 budget, prompting a 20% reduction in the WHO's planned 2026-2027 budget from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion, along with significant layoffs, including about half its leadership team and a global scale-back of programs [para. 1][para. 2][para. 3][para. 4].

At the assembly, member states (excluding the U.S.) unanimously approved the $4.2 billion budget for 2026-2027 and adopted a 20% increase in mandatory national contributions. To help close the funding gap, China announced a $500 million donation over five years, positioning itself (according to multiple reports) as the second-largest contributor after the U.S. China’s donation is intended as a counter to “unilateralism,” as stated by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, and comes alongside pledges from Switzerland ($40 million), Sweden ($13.5 million), Angola ($8 million), and Qatar ($6 million), plus additional commitments from foundations. This funding boost is part of a broader effort to support the WHO during its reform process and to signal China’s commitment to global health governance and multilateralism [para. 3][para. 4][para. 5][para. 6].

Global experts have observed that the withdrawal of the U.S. not only causes a financial deficit at the WHO but diminishes the organization’s access to world-leading American public health talent, potentially weakening global capacity to handle health crises. It also impacts the U.S.’s ability to cooperate internationally on emerging public health threats [para. 7][para. 8].

A central achievement of the assembly is the approval of the long-negotiated “Pandemic Accord.” Driven by the international community’s recognition of its inadequate response to COVID-19, the Pandemic Accord aims to create a comprehensive framework—under WHO auspices—for future pandemic preparedness and response. After three years of negotiations, including disagreements over issues such as pathogen data sharing, intellectual property, and technology transfer, the 30-page Accord was approved in committee with 124 votes in favor, 0 against, and 11 abstentions, and formally adopted on May 20, 2024 [para. 9][para. 10][para. 11][para. 12].

The Accord addresses: (1) enhanced viral surveillance, (2) monitoring zoonotic transmission risks, (3) protecting healthcare workers, and (4) creating a WHO-managed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS). The PABS annex—aimed at balancing pathogen data sharing from low- and middle-income countries with equitable access to vaccines and therapeutics from wealthy nations—remains the most contentious and will be subject to continued negotiation. China has played an active role in narrowing the Accord’s scope to focus on pandemic-potential diseases, clarifying information-sharing frameworks, and safeguarding developing nations’ interests. The Accord requires 60 ratifications to come into force [para. 13][para. 14][para. 15][para. 16].

Overall, the 78th WHA marks a critical juncture for global health governance, with China stepping into a leadership financing role, multilateral collaboration emphasized, and a new, albeit still-evolving, international legal framework for pandemic preparedness established [para. 6][para. 16][para. 17][para. 18].