Vietnam and the Holy See have agreed to upgrade the bilateral relations from non-resident representation to permanent representation in the Southeast Asian country in the coming time. 

The Holy See's Under-Secretary Antoine Camilleri meets Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Dec 18. Photo: Chinhphu

The upgrade of the relationship was reached during the visit to Hanoi on December 18-19 by the Vatican’s Undersecretary for Relations with States Antoine Camilleri and would enable Vatican to establish a permanent representation in Vietnam instead of a temporary of 30 days currently.

During the visit, Antoine Camilleri met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, held a working session with head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Chien Thang, and attended the installation of new Archbishop of Hanoi Vu Van Thien.

Strides in bilateral relations 

The upgrading from Non-Residential to Residential Pontifical Representation shows a big stride in the bilateral relations since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. 

The milestone was set up in 2011 with the appointment of non-resident envoy to Vietnam. Earlier in 2009, the then Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet visited Pope Benedict XVI, marking the first visit paid by a Vietnamese president to the Holy See since 1975. 

Antoine Camilleri said at the meetings with Vietnamese top leaders that the Pope continues to attach importance to ties with Vietnam and wants the Catholic Church in Vietnam to contribute to the country’s socio-economic development.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Antoine Camilleri. Photo: VNS

On December 19, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Under-Secretary Antoine Camilleri co-chaired the seventh meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group in Hanoi.

The two sides also had in-depth and comprehensive discussions on bilateral relations in order to deepen the relations between the Holy See and Vietnam as well as the bonds between the Holy See and the local Catholic Church.

Currently, Vietnam has the second largest Catholic community in Asia wit an estimated eight million believers, accounting for roughly 8% of the population. 

Vietnam’s affirmation

Vietnam has stressed that the Party and State of Vietnam consistently abide by and improve laws and policies towards respecting and ensuring citizens’ right to freedom of religion and beliefs. 

At the same time, Vietnamese authorities said that the state always pays attention to the needs of the Vietnam Catholic Church and creates favorable conditions for the activities of the Vietnamese Catholic community.

In 2016, the Vietnamese National Assembly adopted Law on Religion and Belief, regulating rights to free religious practices and obligations of religious followers. 

Hanoitimes