Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho, on Monday, played host to Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the Holy See’s Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore cum Non-residential Pontifical Representative to Viet Nam.

Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho (right) playing host to Archbishop Marek Zalewski

During his meeting wih his guest, Chairman Tho affirmed the city’s strong stance in ensuring social welfare so as to enhance the material and spiritual life for local citizens and achieve the city’s development goals, and safeguard local defence and security.

The municipal government leader highly applauded Catholic dignitaries and followers in actively promoting the time-honoured tradition of solidarity and patriotism, and effectively implementing local development policies.

He remarked that the local authorities have always created the most favourable conditions for the city-based religious organisations to operate in accordance with the national laws.

The host also asked the Holy See, as well as Archbishop Marek Zalewski, and the Catholic Church in Viet Nam at large, to encourage Catholic followers to ensure a ‘good secular and religious life’, hereby helping to develop Da Nang into a more beautiful, peaceful, civilised and modern city.

In reply, Archbishop Marek Zalewski highly appreciated significant improvements in the living standards of the city’s Catholic community over the past year. It is noticeable that the bilateral relationship between the city authorities and Catholic dignitaries and followers has been strengthened.

The Archbishop said that he would encourage the Catholic community to practice their faiths in line with the national laws, and make greater efforts towards the city’s progress, and that of the country as a whole, in the coming time.