(VOVworld) – Vietnam and the Vatican need to continue holding regular meetings between their leaders and prepare necessary conditions for establishing diplomatic relations, said Politburo member and Vietnam Fatherland Front President (VFF) Nguyen Thien Nhan and the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan and the Vatican’s Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin agree to continue holding regular meetings. (Photo: VNA)

During a meeting in Rome, Italy on July 1, the two sides hailed the progress in bilateral relations. VFF President Nhan valued the Pope’s recent message on environmental protection, which is also a key policy of the Vietnamese Party and State. The VFF will work with the Episcopal Council of the Catholic Church of Vietnam to select appropriate environmental activities to encourage Catholic followers to engage in.

The VFF leader stressed that as an organization representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese people, the VFF appreciates the contributions of more than 6 million Catholic followers to national development.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin lauded the recent positive advances in relations between Vietnam and the Vatican. He spoke highly of the VFF’s role in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Vietnamese people, including Catholics. He expressed the Vatican’s view that Governments and people around the world need to prevent conflicts and protect global peace.