Pope Leo noted the positive progress in bilateral ties and voiced support for further exchanges through the Vietnam – Holy See Joint Working Group, aiming to strengthen cooperation in line with the aspirations of Vietnamese Catholics and the interests of both sides.
Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (L) and Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican (Photo: VNA)
Rome (VNA) – Vice St🏅ate President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, on June 30, during her working vཧisit to Italy, paid a courtesy call on Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, highlighting the growing momentum in Vietnam–Vatican relations.
Pope Leo expressed his delight at the meeting and noted the positive progress in bilateral ties, including the recent upgrade to the status of the Resident Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam. He voiced support for further exchanges through the Vietnam – Holy See Joint Working Group, aiming to strengthen cooperation in line with the aspirations of Vietnamese Catholics and the interests of both sides.
Vice President Xuan congratulated the Pope on his recent election and reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to fostering relations with the Holy See. She praised the guidance and messages delivered by successive Popes to the Catholic Church in Vietnam and called on Pope Leo to continue encouraging the Church’s engagement in national development.
The Vice President also conveyed invitations from Vietnam’s leaders to the Pope and the Holy See’s officials to visit the country. In response, Pope Leo expressed his appreciation for the invitations and affirmed his wish to visit the Southeast Asian nation, aiming to demonstrate solidarity with the Vietnamese Catholic Church and community, and to further strengthen Vietnam–Vatican relations.
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan held talks with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States (Photo: VNA)
The same day, Xuan held talks with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States. She proposed maintaining the effectiveness of the Joint Working Group mechanism and called for continued collaboration between the Holy See’s Resident Representative and Vietnamese authorities in fulfilling pastoral missions. Vietnam will continue facilitating pastoral visits, she said.
Archbishop Gallagher congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements and welcomed recent positive developments in bilateral relations. He appreciated Vietnam’s religious policies and affirmed the Vatican’s willingness to boost ties and support future high-level exchanges.
The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern./.
Relations between Vietnam and the Vatican have seen many positive developments, thanks to high-level visits and interactions between their leaders, negotiations of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group, and particularly the elevation of their relationship to the level of Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam since July 2023, according to Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan Khac Viet.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Vatican, will visit Vietnam from April 9-14 at the invitation of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam, the office of the conference announced on April 3.
teleSUR President Patricia Villegas stated that throughout its formation and development, teleSUR has always considered reporting on Vietnam one of its top priorities, particularly in regard to its history, culture, people, and the ideology and revolutionary cause of President Ho Chi Minh.
Provincial authorities must promptly allocate additional personnel to communes, wards and special areas which lack professional staff to ensure effective operations, the Party chief said.
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National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man has officially endorsed Resolution No. 205/2025/QH15 on piloting the People’s Procuracy's initiation of civil lawsuits to protect the civil rights of vulnerable groups or public interests.
Vietnam’s participation in the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro at the inviation of Brazilian President Lula da Silva highlights the country's growing global role and sets the stage for deeper future cooperation, stated Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi ahead of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to Brazil for the summit and bilateral activities from July 4-8.
Becoming a partner country of BRICS is a step that fully aligns with the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification of international relations that Vietnam has steadfastly pursued for nearly four decades.
President of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly Philemon Yang on July 3 commended Vietnam’s development achievements as well as its steadfast stance and commitment to multilateralism, international law, and the UN Charter.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is also expected to reaffirm Vietnam's strong commitment to peace, stability, cooperation, and development on this occasion; as well as its desire to deepen ties with Brazil and diversify economic, trade, and investment partnerships with high-potential regions.
Regarding regional matters, particularly the East Sea issue, Ramírez noted that Vietnam and China now have additional platforms to address disputes peacefully via dialogue within the framework of multilateral organisations.
Reaffirming Vietnam’s readiness to share its experience, Xuan reiterated the country’s commitment to being a reliable partner and responsible member of the global community, working together to build an inclusive digital world where all women and girls can fully participate, be protected, and be empowered to achieve comprehensive development.
Vietnam’s becoming a BRICS "partner country" is warmly welcomed, and Brazil expects it to play an active and proactive role in advancing goals related to trade, investment, energy transition, sustainable environmental and social development, enhancing connectivity, and promoting equitable access to innovation.
The event aimed to highlight key achievements over the past decade and offered a platform for exemplary individuals and collectives to share experiences, spread positive examples, and encourage officers, Party members, and soldiers to continue studying and following the late leader’s thought, morality, and lifestyle.
Oliveira expressed his hope that the PM’s attendance at the expanded BRICS summit this year will unlock further cooperation opportunities, particularly in the spheres of science, technology, and innovation.
Administrative procedures for citizens and businesses had been issued in a timely manner, with clear and detailed regulations, and were promptly put in place to ensure seamless implementation as the two-tier local administration model began operations on July 1.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for an 11–12% year-on-year increase in total social investment. Meanwhile, greater efforts are needed to fully disburse public investment by December 31. Substandard housing for people with meritorious service must be eradicated by July 27, with nationwide completion slated for August 30.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has set clear deadlines for three major tasks of eliminating makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, advancing key national transport projects, and accelerating the disbursement of public investment capital for 2025.
Over the past six months, NA agencies have advised and supported the legislature in completing the largest volume of law-making work since the beginning of the term, reviewing and passing 38 laws and 52 resolutions, and giving feedback on six other draft laws.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse will lead a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam to attend the expanded BRICS summit and engage in bilateral activities in Brazil from July 4 – 8.
