A Chinese woman is contesting to become the first female chief of the aviation arm of the UN, a post for which India is also likely to put up its candidature.
Liu Fang, an air-safety official, will run to get elected as the secretary-general of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), its Asia-Pacific branch told China's state-run Xinhua news agency today.
If successful in the elections expected to take place sometime in late March, Liu will succeed Frenchman Raymond Benjamin, who is currently in his second term in the position.
She is currently director of the organisation's Bureau of Administration and Services.
The other three candidates are expected to be from the United Arab Emirates, India and Australia.
Liu previously served in the Civil Aviation Administration of China before she joined the ICAO in 2007.
The ICAO, a specialised agency of the UN founded in 1944 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, sets safety standards and rules for air transport.
China was re-elected a Part-1 member (states of chief importance in air transport) of its governing council in 2013.
