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FM Spokesman: China Willing to Improve Relations with Vatican on Two Conditions
China is willing to improve relations with the Vatican, but two conditions must be observed, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi said Thursday at a regular press conference.
A reporter asked Sun to comment on the speech delivered by Pope John Paul II Wednesday, in which Pope John Paul II apologized to the Chinese people for the errors committed during the colonial period and expressed the hope that he visits China before he dies.
Sun said that the speech has been reported, but he had not read the full text, and the Chinese side will review it.
Sun said that China is willing to improve relations with Vatican if the Vatican follows two conditions.
First, the Vatican must terminate "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan, and admit that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory.
Second, the Vatican should make a promise that it will not interfere in China's internal affairs, including not interfering in China's internal affairs by conducting religious activities.
Sun said China will not change its mind on the two conditions, and would like to try to improve its relations with the Vatican.
Vatican Pope Apologizes for Canonization in Hope of Normalized Relations with China
The Vatican Pope John Paul II announced a statement October 24 to ask China to forgive the "mistakes" made by Roman Catholic Church and expressed the hope to normalize relations with China, according to Hong Kong-based Wen Wai Po.
In his statement Paul II says he feels regretful for the mistakes which make many people to think Roman Catholic Church doesn't respect the Chinese people and holds a hostile policy to the Chinese nation. The statement, as reported, was read out at a gathering to commemorate Italian missionary Matteo Ricci held in Beijing.
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