Foreign ministers of China, Vatican meet for first time

China is willing to further enhance understanding and accumulate mutual trust with the Vatican to bring forward the positive momentum of bilateral interaction, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

He made the remark in a rare meeting with the Vatican's Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

The first meeting between the foreign ministers of China and the Vatican is the continuation of recent China-Vatican exchanges, Wang said, and it will also create greater space for future contact.

Wang also briefed Gallagher on the latest development of the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic prevention work in China, saying that the contagion cannot stop the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with 5,000 years of civilization.

He said he believed that the Vatican side will play a constructive role and promote the international community to support China's efforts of combating the virus in an objective, rational and scientific attitude so as to jointly maintain world health security.

Gallagher, for his part, extended the Vatican's respect and support for China on behalf of Pope Francis, saying that the Vatican believes that the Chinese side has the wisdom and courage to win the battle against the virus in an early date.

During the meeting, both Wang and Gallagher underlined the importance of the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops signed between China and the Vatican in 2018.

They also agreed to focus on the overall interests and jointly promote the mutual respect and mutual learning among different cultures for building a peaceful world.