Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dungis leading an inter-sectoral delegation on a working trip to the Vatican fromAugust 20 - 23.

During the stay, the delegation paid courtesy calls to PopeFrancis, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Foreign Minister PaulGallagher, and held a working session with a Vatican delegation led by DeputyForeign Minister Antoine Camilleri within the framework of the Vietnam –Vatican Joint Working Group.

During meetings, the two sides extensively discussed tiesbetween Vietnam and the Vatican, including issues regarding the VietnamCatholic Church.

They agreed that ties between Vietnam and the Vatican aregrowing with regular contact at all levels, especially meetings at high level.

Deputy FM Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and Statealways consistently implement and continuously improve laws and policies ofrespecting and ensuring citizens’ freedom of religion and beliefs, pay attentionto the needs of the Catholic community, encourage and create favourableconditions for the Vietnam Catholic Church to join in national construction.

Pope Francis welcomed thevisit of the Vietnamese delegation, which he said contributes to increasingmutual understanding and bilateral relations.

He expressed his admiration for Vietnamesepeople’s fight for national independence in the past and the cause of nationalbuilding at present.

He hoped the relations between the two sideswill continue to be promoted based on mutual respect, cooperation anddialogues.

Parolin and Gallagher thanked the VietnameseGovernment and authorities at all levels for always paying attention to the needsof the Vietnam Catholic Church and facilitating religious practices andorganisation of important religious events.

The Vatican affirmed that it hopes theVietnamese Catholic community will continue making active contributions to thecause of national development and follow Vietnam’s laws.

The two sides agreed on the appointment of somebishops and underlined the Pope’s teaching that Vietnamese Catholics must begood citizens, always accompany the nation in national building, and respectand abide by Vietnam’s law.

They also agreed on basic principles and contentregarding the operational regulations of Vatican’s resident special envoy and theresident special envoy office in Vietnam with a view to implementing them assoon as possible.

The two sides reached consensus on enhancingexchange mechanisms based on agreed principles and in the spirit of dialogue,mutual trust and understanding, as well as on promoting delegation exchanges,especially at high level, in the time to come.-VNA