This item is 'significant' only that it was issued by the official Chinese news agency Xinhua. Otherwise, it really says nothing new.
BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said here on Thursday that the communication channel between China and the Vatican is "unblocked" and China is sincere about wanting to improve ties with the Vatican.
Reports say that Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen will depart for the Vatican on Friday and may meet with Pope Benedict XVI to discuss Sino-Vatican relations.
Spokesman Liu Jianchao said China hopes the Vatican will respect the Chinese government's religious policies and relevant laws and stop interfering in China's domestic affairs under the pretext of religion.
He said the Chinese government has two principles in dealing with relations with the Vatican. First the Vatican must terminate its so-called diplomatic links with Taiwan, and it should not interfere in China's internal affairs, including any intervention under the pretext of religious affairs.
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What exactly do they mean by "interfere" and "intervention"? The Chinese government may well say that of any statement at all from the Vatican about the Catholic Church in China!