The World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) opened a special session on Thursday, during which China's Margaret Chan will be formally approved as the organization's next director-general.

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The special session of the UN agency's top decision-making body kicked off at the Palace of Nations in Geneva, also known as the UN headquarters in Europe.

During the afternoon session of the one-day meeting, delegates of the 193 WHO members will vote and approve Dr. Chan's nomination as new chief.

The WHO's 34-member governing Executive Board on Wednesday nominated Chan as the new director-general after rounds of secret balloting which eliminated four other candidates.

Dr. Chan needs at least two-thirds of the assembly to formally become the new director-general. The assembly has never rejected a candidate recommended by the Executive Board.