On the night of May 6, 2004, Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo held a phone conversation with US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Lee Armitage at the request of the latter.

Armitage indicated that the United States supports China to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The two sides also exchanged views on the development of Sino-US relations. Armitage stressed that the stance of the United States on the Taiwan question has not changed and the United States will continue to uphold the "one China" policy. The US side would like to make joint efforts with China and other concerned parties to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue peacefully.

Armitage expressed his condolences and sympathy for the technicians and engineers killed and injured in Pakistan on behalf of the US government. Dai Bingguo thanked him for his kindness.