Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (L) and Archbishop of the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese Nguyen Nang (Source: VNA)HCM City (VNA)- Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh onDecember 21 extended his Christmas greetings to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries andfollowers in Ho Chi Minh City ahead ofthe Christmas holiday.
The Deputy PM had separate meetings with Archbishop of the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese Nguyen Nang; Cardinal Pham Minh Man, former Archbishop of the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese; and Head of the GeneralConfederation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South) Pastor Thai Phuoc Truong.
Duringthe meetings, Binh praised Catholics and Protestants for their significant contributions to thecountry’s socio-economic development achievements, poverty reduction, culture-sports,education and healthcare in 2019.
He affirmedthat the Party and State always respect and work to ensure the right to freedomof belief and religion, as well as create all favourable conditions forreligious activities within the legal framework, thus promoting the great nationalunity bloc.
The Deputy PM hoped the Catholicand Protestant communities will actively join patriotic emulation movements andmake greater contributions to the country’s prosperity.
At the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese,Deputy PM Binh handed over flower baskets of Party General Secretary andPresident Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to thenewly-appointed Archbishop Nguyen Nang.
Archbishop Nguyen Nang promised tocontinuously encourage parishioners to follow the State’s laws and policies andactively participate in patriotic emulation campaigns.
Meanwhile, Cardinal Pham Minh Man wished amerry Christmas for all Vietnamese people, and peace and prosperity for thecountry. Man said he will continue to contribute to the society’s development.
Pastor ThaiPhuoc Truong thanked the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front for their supportin personnel training and developing chapters of the general confederationin provinces and cities.
He pledgedto encourage Protestant dignitaries and followers to join productionactivities, charity campaigns and poverty reduction efforts.
The sameday, Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh also visited and extendedChristmas greetings to Bishop of the My Tho Diocese NguyenVan Kham.
Meeting with Bishop of the My Tho Diocese Nguyen VanKham, who is also Secretary General of theVietnam Episcopal Council, the Deputy PM hoped the Bishop will continue to encourage Catholics to join socialactivities and patriotic emulation campaigns./.
VNA
