Vietnam, Vatican agree to continue high-level exchanges
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.
A girl presents flowers to Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, at a ceremony held at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi on April 10. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Relationsbetween 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 theirrelationship to the level of Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam sinceJuly 2023, according to Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Doan KhacViet.
At the ministry’s regular press briefing in Hanoi on April 11, Viet noted that ArchbishopPaul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States andInternational Organisations, visited Vietnam from April 9 to 11.
He went on to say that athis meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Foreign Minister Bui ThanhSon, Gallagher praised Vietnam’s development achievements in all fields and the Vietnam Catholic Church’s growth and positivecontributions to national construction and development.
The deputy spokesperson said the two sides have agreed to maintaineffective high-level exchange activities and leverage the role of the Vatican'sResident Papal Representative in Vietnam to bring the bilateral relations forward./.
On the occasion of the visit by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Vo Van Thuong, to the Vatican on July 27, 2023, on the basis of the 10th Session of the Joint Working Group between Vietnam and the Holy See on March 31, 2023 in the Vatican, and with the desire to continue advancing bilateral relations, the two sides officially announce that the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Holy See concluded the “Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam”.
President Vo Van Thuong, his spouse and entourage met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, in the Vatican on July 27 afternoon (local time) to discuss Vietnam-Vatican ties and the Catholic situation in Vietnam.
Pope Francis’s appointment of Archbishop Marek Zalewski as the first Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam marks a historic moment in the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Vatican, said Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception on April 9 for Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations who is on a visit to the country.
Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra received visiting Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, in Hanoi on April 10.
Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, along with a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Seongnam Air Base in Seoul on August 10 afternoon (local time), beginning a state visit to the Republic of Korea from August 10-13.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
A girl presents flowers to Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, at a ceremony held at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi on April 10. (Photo: VNA) 
