The endorsement by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus came at the end of a three-day debate at the WHO's executive board, at which the agency's initial response to the coronavirus outbreak came under criticism.

A report by an independent panel faulted China for being slow to apply public health measures, and the WHO for waiting too long to declare an emergency.

Charles Michel, who chairs summits of EU leaders, proposed last month that countries draw up a treaty so that their obligations in future pandemics would be clear from the outset.

Tedros held a meeting with Michel in December.

Tedros, referring to the proposal, told the board: "All of us have seen how unprecedented this pandemic is, and we have to give it our best. And I think a treaty is the best thing that we can do that can (ensure) the political commitment of member states."

He noted that such a treaty would be the first global public health accord since a 2003 tobacco control pact.

China's capital on Wednesday recorded seven new coronavirus cases amid a lingering outbreak of infections in the country's north, where a total of 81 additional cases were reported in three provinces.

China has now recorded a total of 88,557 cases since the new coronavirus was first detected in the city of Wuhan in late 2019.

The country's authorities have reported 4635 deaths related to COVID-19.

China is hoping to vaccinate 50 million people against the virus by the middle of next month.

It is also releasing schools early and telling citizens to stay put during the Lunar New Year travel rush that begins in coming days.

Meanwhile, WHO experts are undergoing quarantine in Wuhan ahead of beginning field visits seeking to shed light on the origins of the virus, which is thought to have jumped to humans from animals, possibly bats.

Australian Associated Press