Despite this, China continues to be the top donor among developing nations. Premier Wen Jiabao recently announced that assistance to the developing world amounted to $30 billion by June 2008, and about half of it was provided as free aid.

China is still pursuing health diplomacy as a cost-effective foreign-aid instrument. By the end of 2009, China had sent a total of 17,000 medical personnel to 47 African countries and regions.

Over the past decade, China has also become an active participant in international humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief efforts. Its contributions to multilateral health funds have increased as well. Last September, Premier Wen pledged $14 million to the GFATM, which is almost the total amount China has contributed to the Fund over the past seven years.

China's pledge did not rival that of the US, Japan, even Russia, but it was by far the largest donor among developing countries. Sources from global health watchers and practitioners suggest that China is already nearing the United States and other developed countries in offering health-related development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa.

The misperceptions and misunderstandings of China's contribution to global health in part can be attributed to China's unique approach to supporting global health in less developed countries.

China does not generally publicize details about its aid to other countries, and the absence of a development agency equivalent to the United States Agency for International Development makes it even more difficult to gauge the full extent and nature of China's health aid program.

China is also not a member of the Development and Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD DAC). It prefers bilateral aid instead of collaborating with other countries or international organizations.

Unlike OECD DAC donors, who in providing health aid encourage trade liberalization and good governance, China seeks to address health and human needs in the recipient countries through infrastructure projects, with no political strings attached.

While this approach offers developing countries a viable, often efficient option for improving health and development conditions, it also leads to a lack of appreciation of China's contribution to global health, and invites criticism from human rights groups and international development agencies.

Therefore, it is in China's best interests to promote dialogue and collaboration with other donors over health aid and other development issues. This will help improve transparency and avoid duplication of health aid, and boost China's image as a constructive partner in global governance.

Yanzhong Huang is a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations in the United States.