On September 30, 2004, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with Secretary –General Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría of the Organization of American States (OAS) at the OAS headquarters in Washington, the United States.

Li Zhaoxing indicated that China attaches great importance to the role of the OAS and would like to conduct exchanges with this organization in regional and international issues and jointly contribute to safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Li Zhaoxing thanked the OAS members for unanimously admit China as a permanent observer through consultation. In this way, the issue of China's representation has been addressed politically, legally and procedurally. Taiwan, as a province of China, is not at all entitled to participate in the OAS in any name or any form.

Rodríguez highly commented the cooperation between the OAS and China, noting that the organization attaches importance to the positive role China has played in international affairs and would like to strengthen cooperation with China in an all-round manner. At the same time, he indicated that the OAS supports China's stance on the Taiwan issue and will continue prudently handle issues involving Taiwan.

Yang Jiechi, Ambassador of China to the United States, attended the meeting.