The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Vatican Deputy Foreign Minister Ettore Balestrero.
Both sides informed each other of the situation in their respective countries and evaluated progress in bilateral relations after the second meeting in the Vatican in June 2010.
They also touched upon issues relating to the Vietnamese Catholic community and exchanges views on international issues of mutual concern.
Son stressed that the Vietnamese State has constantly finalised religious policies to respect and ensure its people’s rights to freedom of religion and belief.
The State has always encouraged the Vietnam Catholic Church to take an active and practical part in socio-economic development and national construction, said Son.
For his part, Balestrero acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts and thanked local administrations for their support to the church’s activities, especially those within the framework of the Jubilee Year 2010, as well as a visit to Vietnam by Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Vatican’s non-resident representative to Vietnam.
Balestrero expressed his wish that the Archbishop’s role and mission will be strengthened to foster links between the Vatican and the Vietnam Catholic Church, as well as relations between the Vatican and Vietnam.
Both sides agreed to create favourable conditions for the Archbishop to fulfil his mission in Vietnam.
They recalled Pope Benedict XVI’s teachings of living an evangelical life and stressed the need to have closer cooperation between local administrations and the church to bring the teachings to life.
They held that relations between Vietnam and the Vatican have made positive progress through goodwill and constructive dialogues and in respect for principles in their relations.
The meeting took place in cordial and frank atmosphere and in the spirit of mutual respect.
Both sides agreed to convene their fourth meeting in the Vatican, and the time will be arranged through diplomatic channels.
The Vatican delegation paid a courtesy visit to Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, and the Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Nguyen Thanh Xuan.
They also visited the Central Paediatric Hospital, which has developed a cooperation project with the Vatican’s Bambino Gesù hospital, and several Catholic dioceses in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Xuan Loc Diocese in Dong Nai Province.
VNN/VOV/VNA
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