Vietnam - Vatican approves important agreement during President's visit

On the occasion of President Vo Van Thuong's visit to the Vatican on July 27, based on the results of the 10th meeting of the Vietnam - Vatican Joint Working Group on March 31, 2023 at the Vatican, with the common desire to continue promoting relations between the two sides, the two sides officially announced that the Government of Vietnam and the Holy See have approved the "Agreement on the Regulations of Operation of the Permanent Representative and the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam".

President Vo Van Thuong meets with representatives of the Holy See. Photo: VATICAN NEWS

At the meetings between President Vo Van Thuong with Pope Francis and the Holy See's Prime Minister, Cardinal Pietro Parolin on July 27, both sides appreciated the positive developments in Vietnam - Holy See relations and the active activities of the Vietnamese Catholic community in recent times.

The two sides expressed their belief that the Permanent Representative of the Holy See will properly perform its functions and tasks in the Statute; support the Vietnamese Catholic community to operate in the spirit of respecting the law and the teachings of the Church, implementing the guidelines of "accompanying the nation", "good parishioners and good citizens", actively contributing to the development of the country; at the same time, promoting its role as a bridge to promote relations between Vietnam and the Holy See.

As reported by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, during the meeting, President Vo Van Thuong and Pope Francis assessed the approval of the Regulations on the operation of the Permanent Representative and the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam as an important step forward in the context of positive development of bilateral relations, the result of exchanges in the spirit of respect, cooperation and mutual understanding.

President Vo Van Thuong affirmed that Vietnam will facilitate the activities of the resident representative, in accordance with Vietnamese laws and regulations and the bilateral agreement; expressed his wish that the Catholic Church in Vietnam will develop further and contribute more actively to the overall development of the country.

Pope Francis emphasized that the adoption of the Statute of the Permanent Representative and the Office of the Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam is a model of mutual trust and a basis for further promoting and expanding relations in the coming time.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung, this result is especially significant after the two sides have been negotiating for 14 years since 2009. With the adoption of this regulation, the two sides officially upgrade their relationship to the level of permanent representative in the near future.

The official upgrading of relations to the level of Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam is considered to be one of the new historical steps in bilateral relations, and at the same time an important premise to open a new stage to exploit and promote the potential for cooperation between Vietnam and the Holy See.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/chinh-tri/viet-nam-toa-thanh-vatican-thong-qua-thoa-thuan-quan-trong-nhan-chuyen-tham-cua-chu-tich-nuoc-2023072823073739.htm