The Organization of American States (OAS) on Wednesday formally accepted China as a permanent observer of the Washington-based organization.

This brings to 60 the number of permanent observers to the Western Hemisphere body, which currently has 35 members.

By consensus, a regular session of the OAS Permanent Council chaired by Ambassador Miguel Ruiz-Cabanas of Mexico adopted a resolution granting the observer status.

The resolution was sponsored by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

China attaches high importance to the OAS, an important political organization in the Western Hemisphere, said Yang Jiechi,the Chinese ambassador to the United States, after the resolution was adopted.

China's status of permanent observer to the OAS, which is playing an active and important role in maintaining regional stability and security, advancing peace and development, and promoting regional integration, will provide a new platform for the exchanges and cooperation between China and American states, he said.

Yang said China and OAS members share a wide range of interestsin maintaining peace and promoting development, and that China will take real actions to actively promote its cooperation with the OAS so as to realize common development.

The OAS, a regional political organization that was establishedin 1890 as the International Union of American Republics, adopted its present name in 1948, when 21 nations of the hemisphere met inBogota, Colombia, to adopt the Charter of the Organization of American States.

Source: Xinhua