WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- China and the Organization of American States (OAS) signed two cooperation agreements Friday.

The agreements on a China-OAS cooperation fund and on a human development and scholarship program were signed by Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the United States, and OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza.

The signing of the agreements is a milestone in the China-OAS relationship and a new starting point for the two sides to deepen cooperation, Cui told the signing ceremony.

The year 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of China's permanent observer status in the OAS.

Over the past decade, China has promoted high-level exchanges between the two sides and actively taken part in OAS activities, Cui said.

"Looking back to the past 10 years, we are very pleased and proud that China has become one of the most active observers of the OAS," the Chinese ambassador added.

Hailing China's active role in the OAS in the past decade, Insulza said China has made important contributions to the bloc in such areas as regional integration, sustainable development and environmental protection.

Established in 1948, the Washington-based OAS now has 35 member states across the Americas and has granted permanent observer status to 69 states and the European Union.