by Thanh Thuy

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year a meeting between the leaders of the Church and the Prime Minister was held. The government ensures the "land for purposes of worship," and calls for greater "participation" in education and healthcare. Catholics: "talks must be followed by action otherwise empty words."

Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Reassurances on the "need for land for the purpose of worship" and calls for Catholics' "participation" "in the fields of education and healthcare." These are the main points raised in the meeting in Hanoi between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the delegation formed by leaders of the Vietnamese Church, led by Archbishop Nguyen Van Nhom of the capital, on the eve of celebrations for Tet, the Lunar New Year.

The government leaders wanted to thank the Church for its contribution to the economy and civil society. The Prime Minister promised to facilitate "the need for land for religious purposes" and called for "participation" in the development of education and healthcare. Nguyen Tan Dung has also spoke of his wishes for the full "normalization" of diplomatic relations between Hanoi and the Vatican.

By contrast, the Catholic delegation led by the Archbishop of Hanoi and president of the Bishops' Conference Msgr. Peter Nguyen Van Nhon noted the positive steps taken by the government in 2012. Among these, greetings on the occasion of the opening of the Federation of Asian Bishops plenary last December, and the visit made by the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, to Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

Those present told AsiaNews, that the summit was held in a cordial atmosphere. However, groups of faithful recall the recent sentencing of activists and the demolition of the monastery of Our Lady of Carmel and warn: "in Vietnamese society today, the talks must be followed by action otherwise empty words."

• VIETNAM
• catholic
• church
• communist
• government
• meeting
• tet