VP Chen returns from Holy See visit

2019/10/16

Vice President Chen Chien-jen has wrapped up a successful four-day visit to the Holy See designed to foster exchanges across a variety of fields.
 
 At a news conference following his return to Taiwan Oct. 15, Chen said bilateral cooperation between the allies in recent years has yielded significant results in areas such as combating human trafficking and delivering humanitarian assistance. Taiwan will continue to support Pope Francis in his efforts to promote religious freedom, democracy and human rights worldwide, he added.
 
 Serving as the special envoy of President Tsai Ing-wen, Chen presented the pontiff with two gifts: a documentary on Matteo Ricci, one of the leading figures of the Jesuit China missions, and a Taiwan magazine spotlighting Catholic priests and nuns working in the country’s remote areas.
 
 Pope Francis in turn asked Chen to convey his greetings to Tsai, adding that he would pray for Taiwan.
 
 Chen also attended the canonization of late British Cardinal John Henry Newman and four other holy figures at St. Peter’s Basilica. He was accompanied by senior government officials including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kelly Wu-chiao Hsieh.
 
 The ROC (Taiwan) and Holy See have had formal diplomatic relations for 77 years, with the two sides enjoying close ties and cooperation in many areas. Recent highlights include staging the World Congress of the Apostleship of the Sea in October 2017 in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City, as well agreeing a memorandum of understanding on strengthening cooperation in combating money laundering, terrorism financing and associated offenses in May the same year.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)