Joining the meeting reception included Mr. Phạm Dũng, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs cum Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs; Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, non-resident Special Envoy of Vatican to Vietnam; Cardinal Nguyễn Văn Nhơn of Hanoi Archdiocese; Archbishop Bùi Văn Đọc of Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese - President of the CBCV. 

During the meeting Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng affirmed the Government of Vietnam always respects and ensures citizens’ right to freedom of belief and religion in general and Catholicism in particular, and spoke highly of the Vietnamese Catholic communities’ active contributions to the national development.

PM Dung said the prospect of the Vietnam-Vatican relations is very fine despite ups and downs during the long-lasting history of the bilateral ties. Both sides have maintained annual talks, regular contacts and meetings, and dialogues. Particularly, the recent high-level contacts have helped move the relationship forwards.

Speaking to the host, Cardinal Fernando Filoni congratulated on the achievements gained by Vietnam, and said that dialogues would make the finely existing relation between the two sides further strengthened and developed.  

 Some images at the meeting: