WASHINGTON - China has reaffirmed its commitment to the Organization of American States (OAS) with an extra cash donation of about $45,000.

The money was handed to OAS Secretary-General Jos Miguel Insulza by Zhang Yesui, China's ambassador to the United States and OAS permanent observer, at the organization's headquarters in Washington DC on Tuesday. The money is in addition to China's annual donation to OAS.

It will be used to help upgrade the telecommunication system of the OAS secretarial department and provide funds for its program to prevent and eradicate commercial sexual exploitation and smuggling of and trafficking in children and adolescents.

"I hope our donation can help enhance the OAS capability and plays a positive role in promoting the regional stability and development," Zhang said.

"And China will further develop the friendship with the countries and peoples in the West Hemisphere."

The OAS, the world's oldest regional organization, comprises 35 independent nations of the Americas and has granted Permanent Observer status to 63 countries, as well as to the European Union.

It constitutes the principal political, juridical and social governmental forum in the West Hemisphere.

Permanent Observer countries provide cooperation, in the form of training opportunities, expert services, equipment and cash contributions for various programs.

Since China became a Permanent Observer in 2004, it has set up a five-year $1 million cooperation fund, which has been used in 37 OAS projects in politics, economy, security and social development.

Last year, China and the OAS renewed the five-year fund project and signed a memorandum for a new scholarship program.

There are now 13 young students from the region studying in China on Chinese government scholarship.

In recent years, China has invited the OAS to participate in a young diplomats exchange programs for the Latin American and Caribbean countries.