HCM CITY — Representatives of HCM City’s administration, led by the city’s Party Secretary Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, yesterday visited the city’s Archbishop and the office of the Episcopacy of Việt Nam ahead of Christmas and the New Year.

On behalf of the city’s administrators, Nhân congratulated bishops, priests, monks and all Christians nationwide, wishing them a merry Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous New Year.

He also detailed some of the city’s recent socio-economical developments and plans for the upcoming years, with the Party, authorities and citizens set to implement the resolutions set at the 10th city’s Party Committee Congress.

Nhân expressed his delight on learning that the city’s archdiocese and Christians have significantly contributed to various fields, including education, health care and charity in recent years.

He hoped that the archbishop, bishops and priests of the city’s archdiocese would continue to assist the city’s leaders to encourage Christians to join in building and protecting the nation and building a city with better living quality.

Archbishop Bùi Văn Đọc thanked the city’s leaders for providing best conditions for Christians to fulfill their duties and contribute to development in recent years.

He expressed hope that ties between the archdiocese and the city’s administration will develop further so that the city’s Christians can continue to contribute to fulfilling the development targets of HCM City.

On the same day, the northern province of Quảng Ninh’s People’s Council Chairman Nguyễn Văn Đọc met with priests ahead of Christmas.

He sent his best wishes to all Christians in the province and expressed his expectation that they would continue to promote their Christian traditions while contributing to the development of the province.

A meeting between the representatives of Gia Lai Province’s People’s Committee and the representatives of the province’s Protestants, Thánh Tâm Church and Kon Tum Archbishop was also held yesterday.

According to Protestant pastor Huỳnh Duy Linh, religious believers and Christians in particular strongly believe in the guidance of the State and Party, therefore they will further participate in patriotic campaigns and promote national unity.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Vĩnh Long Province also held a meeting to congratulate the Christian dignitaries and to wish them a merry Christmas.

Speaking at the event, the province’s Party Secretary Trương Văn Sáu acknowledged the contributions of the local Christian community to the development of the province. He also expressed his wish that they would continue to promote patriotism in the years to come. — VNS