Pope Leo XIV receives Vice-President of Vietnam
Pope Leo XIV receives the Vice-President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Vatican (@VATICAN MEDIA)
VATICAN: The Holy See Press Office released the following statement about Pope Leo XIV's meeting on Monday morning with the Vice-President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:
Pope Leo XIV received in audience, in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the Vice-President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Her Excellency Madam Vo Thi An Xuan, who subsequently met with His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
During the cordial discussions which took place in the Secretariat of State, warm appreciation was expressed for the positive developments in the relations between the Holy See and Vietnam, in particular in the implementation of the Agreement on the Status of the Resident Pontifical Representative in Vietnam, while underscoring the contribution of the Catholic Church to Vietnamese society.
An exchange of views then took place on the socio-political situation of the country, as well as on regional and international developments.--Vatican News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Malaysia
33 minutes ago
- Herald Malaysia
Peru presents Pope Leo XIV tourist route to showcase his life in the country
On the evening of July 21, the Peruvian government, led by President Dina Boluarte, presented 'Leo's Route' simultaneously from four regions in Peru. The project seeks to show the world 39 places related to Pope Leo XIV's life in the country. Jul 24, 2025 The poster for the presentation of the Pope Leo XIV tourist route in Peru. | Credit: ANDINA/Presidency of Peru By Walter Sánchez Silva On the evening of July 21, the Peruvian government, led by President Dina Boluarte, presented 'Leo's Route' simultaneously from four regions in Peru. The project seeks to show the world 39 places related to Pope Leo XIV's life in the country. The presentation of the project, also known as 'Paths of Pope Leo XIV,' took place in the regions of Lambayeque — where Robert Prevost, the current pope, was bishop of Chiclayo — in La Libertad, Piura, and Callao, where he served as apostolic administrator. In Lambayeque — where Boluarte and the current bishop of Chiclayo, Edinson Farfán, were present — the president stated that 'we have here a route that not only runs through streets or churches but also through the memory, faith, and hope of a people who never stopped dreaming and who today can proudly say that we have a Peruvian pope.'Although Prevost was born in the United States, he became a naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015, when he was appointed bishop of his 'beloved diocese of Chiclayo,' as he said in his first words to the world, speaking in Spanish, after being elected pope. He also recently updated his information to renew his DNI, the national identity document for Peruvians.A few days ago, the minister of foreign trade and tourism, Desilú León, emphasized that 'this is not just a religious route; it is an integrative project that combines together culture, infrastructure, services, faith, and identity. It is also a commitment to local development through tourism.' In Lambayeque, the region where the city of Chiclayo is located, 22 tourist points of interest have been identified, organized into four circuits that combine religious, cultural, and natural heritage, such as St. Mary's Cathedral, the Cross of Motupe, the Pómac Forest, and Pimentel Beach. In Piura, there will be eight destinations, including St. Joseph the Worker Parish and the Holy Family Cathedral, both in Chulucanas, and the town of La Encantada. In Callao, there are four destinations: the 'Mother Church,' St. Rose Parish, the diocesan chancery, and the Carmen de la Legua district; while in La Libertad, there are five destinations, including St. Thomas of Villanova Convent and the Sts. Charles and Marcellus Major Seminary in Trujillo, where Pope Leo XIV was a professor. Leo XIV arrived as a priest in Chulucanas in the Piura region of Peru in 1985. He returned to the United States and then came back to Trujillo in the La Libertad district, where he stayed for 11 years. In 2014, he returned first as apostolic administrator and then as bishop of Chiclayo; and years later, he also served as apostolic administrator of Callao. For the first stage of this route, which has involved coordination with four regions and 20 municipalities, the government has allocated a total of 540 million soles (approximately $151 million). 'In a world with more than 7 billion inhabitants, there is only one pope, and that pope chose by his own decision to become Peruvian. Everything we do to showcase his work will always fall short of his greatness,' the minister stated.--CNA
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Vietnam to buy two Lockheed Martin helicopters, sources say, as US trade talks carry on
File photo of people visiting a Lockheed Martin booth displaying a model of a military transport plane during an arms fair, in Hanoi, Vietnam in December 2024. - Reuters HANOI: Vietnam's police ministry has agreed to buy two Lockheed Martin helicopters, according to three people with knowledge of the talks, in what would be a key security deal since Washington lifted an arms embargo on the Communist-run nation a decade ago. The deal would come after the country's ministry of public security held protracted talks since at least 2022 with multiple US defence companies to acquire helicopters. Lockheed Martin is also negotiating with Vietnam's defence ministry the sale of C-130 military transport planes, multiple officials have said. Vietnam, which relies heavily on Russian weapons, has been looking for years to diversify its arsenal. It is also currently negotiating with the Trump administration key elements of a tariff deal that is crucial to maintain access to its largest export market. Vietnamese pilots have already been training with Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky helicopters, one of the sources with direct knowledge said, noting the deal was worth more than US$100 million and could include more choppers at a later stage. The source did not specify the chopper model under discussion but said pilots were training with S-92 helicopters, which are employed in several countries for both civilian and military uses. Another two sources briefed on the talks confirmed Vietnam had agreed to buy two Lockheed Martin helicopters but gave no information about the cost and the model. All sources declined to be named because the information was not public. Reuters could not establish when the deal could be completed and whether there were contractual aspects to be defined. Since an arms embargo on Vietnam was lifted in 2016, US security deals with its former foe have been limited to coastguard ships and trainer aircraft, which could lead to the procurement of military planes. Lockheed Martin said queries on procurement should be directed to the Vietnamese government. Calls to Vietnam's ministry of public security went unanswered. The foreign ministry did not reply to a request for comment. Vietnam's parliament approved in June 2022 the establishment of a mobile police unit to tackle crime, terrorism and riots, which would need helicopters to operate, according to the government and the text of the 2022 legislation. US officials have said Washington sees Vietnam as a key player on regional security and would be willing to boost Vietnam's defence, especially in the South China Sea, where it is often at odds with China over disputed boundaries. Support for the police could be more controversial. The latest US State Department's report on human rights in Vietnam, released in 2023, warned of significant violations and abuses by security forces. Vietnam's foreign ministry has said the report was biased and inaccurate. The sources did not explicitly link the possible procurement deal to tariff talks, but Vietnamese and US officials have repeatedly said purchases of US military equipment would strengthen Hanoi's position in negotiating a fully-fledged trade agreement. US President Donald Trump announced earlier in July a deal on 20% tariffs for Vietnamese goods imported into the United States, 40% levies on transshipped products and no duties for US exports to Vietnam. However, Hanoi has instead talked of a preliminary framework agreement. Talks are still underway to finalise the agreement. - Reuters
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Trump piles up trade deals as Asia agrees to open up to American goods: Analysis
AUSTIN: It's no easy feat to catch Washington's formidable trade lobbies and relentless, scoop-hungry journalists off guard. Yet on Tuesday (July 22), US President Donald Trump managed to do exactly that. On a day when experts and analysts were poised to dissect a potential deal with the Philippines, awaited after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's visit to the White House, Trump blindsided everyone by announcing a 'massive' deal with Japan. 'We just completed a massive deal with Japan, perhaps the largest deal ever made,' he said on his social media platform Truth Social. 'Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 billion dollars into the United States, which will receive 90 per cent of the profits. This deal will create hundreds of thousands of jobs - There has never been anything like it,' he added. US$550 billion is S$703 billion. Confirmed by Japan's chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, the deal slashes US tariffs on imports from Asia's second-largest economy to 15 per cent, well below the 25 per cent threat that loomed after the July 9 tariff pause ended. Japan will also accede to a key White House demand and open its market to American cars, trucks, rice and certain other agricultural products. In a win for Japan's powerful carmakers, their exports to the US will attract lower tariffs of 15 per cent from the current 25 per cent. The announcement stole the thunder from the Philippines deal, which had been previewed only hours earlier on Truth Social. Trump said the Philippines exports to the US will be subject to a 19 per cent tariff - higher than the 17 per cent initially proposed in April but lower than the 20 per cent threatened earlier in July. In contrast, the Philippines will levy zero tariffs on US goods. Threaten steep tariffs to make others buy more and invest more On the same day, further details emerged on the July 16 agreement with Indonesia, South-east Asia's largest economy. Key provisions included the elimination of nearly all Indonesian tariffs on US goods and a 19 per cent US tariff on Indonesian exports, with certain goods containing content from 'nonmarket economies', read China, to be tariffed at 40 per cent. It was also agreed that Indonesia would provide critical minerals to the US and would purchase Boeing aircraft and American farm products. Such details are still missing from the first deal struck by the Trump administration with a South-East Asian nation, Vietnam, in early July. While negotiations are reportedly still underway, Trump's July 2 Truth Social post revealed key terms of the Vietnam deal, including a 20 per cent tariff on Vietnamese imports to the US and a 40 per cent tariff on transshipped goods, in exchange for Hanoi's commitment to eliminate all tariffs on American exports. Within the span of a month, thus, the White House has unveiled deals not only with Asia's second-largest economy but also with three key Asean economies. For the Asian partners yet to strike deals, such as India and Singapore, these deals set a precedent and create pressure to negotiate similar terms to avoid punitive tariffs and maintain strong trade relations with the US. High-level talks between the US and South Korea talks are scheduled for July 25, with Seoul considering politically sensitive concessions, for example in agriculture and autos, to avert steep US tariffs, which currently stand at 25 per cent but have been postponed to Aug 1. As part of a broader US effort to reset global trade relationships, it would seem that Mr Trump's aggressive tariff strategy is delivering some visible results. All four deals share a common goal: opening markets to American goods to cut trade deficits and support domestic industries. Two other trends are also clear: Trump's steep tariff threats have been effective, and despite falling short of the promised 90 deals in 90 days, analysts are noting a surprising surge in agreements. 'I was very surprised to hear this deal announced today,' Dr William Chou, the deputy director of Hudson Institute's Japan Chair, told The Straits Times. The US$550 billion on top of Japan's current US$860 billion foreign direct investment in the US would make Japan the top investor in the US, head and shoulders above any other country, he noted. Will there be purchase, investment agreements in deal with China? The deals with Asian partners have also attracted the notice of those monitoring US-China trade. 'There was a lot of attention on what would come out of these deals, especially (with) Vietnam, on transshipment and rules of origin. Unfortunately, the devil is in the details and we don't have any details,' said a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he advises American companies engaged in business with China. But the Japan agreement signals that the US is expecting purchase agreements in trade deals and that has high significance for a highly anticipated visit to China by Trump, he added. During a press conference alongside Marcos, Trump hinted at a visit to China 'not too far into the future' to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. But no firm date has been set yet and Chinese imports could be subject to tariffs higher than 50 per cent unless new agreements are reached. 'Many of us are wondering if there will be a focus on purchase agreements similar to phase one trade deal with China in Trump's first term.' The huge investment component in the Japan deal has also sparked the idea that a deal with Beijing might involve large investment commitments from China. 'President Trump in the Oval Office has welcomed Chinese investment in the US. This is obviously in contrast to the hawks in his administration and in Congress, but Trump is ultimately the one that determines China policy,' said the source. However, Dr Chou said a direct geopolitical implication of the flurry of trade deals - with Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and likely soon South Korea - is expected to be for China. He said it meant that China can no longer use trade as a wedge issue between the US and Indo-Pacific countries. 'Given the White House's desire to negotiate a good deal with China - and in the wake of China's use of rare earths as economic coercion in the past few months - these trade deals by the White House strengthen Washington's negotiation position with Beijing,' Dr Chou noted. 'I think the administration's demonstration of its priorities, the 10 per cent baseline and long-term frameworks for balanced trade, have become increasingly clear to trading partners,' he said. 'Combined with Trump's willingness to live with tariffs, and the news of customs duties of US$27 billion last month, it provided impetus for trading partners to strike a trade deal,' he added. Customs duties fetched about US$27 billion in June, three times higher than in the same month of 2024, after Trump levied across-the-board 10 per cent tariffs on imports in April on top of other selective duties. On an annual basis, tariff collections have totaled US$113 billion, rise of 86 per cent over last year. Minimising imports doesn't augur well for any economy Less impressed was Frank Lavin, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, a veteran trade negotiator and former ambassador to Singapore. 'It is hard to fully understand Trump's ultimate goals because at times he talks about the trade balance, at times he talks about reciprocity of tariff rates, at times he talks about re-shoring American manufacturing, and at times he talks about increasing tariff revenue to the US Government,' Lavin said. 'There are any number of contradictions among those four goals,' he said. For instance, if the goal of high tariffs is to boost US manufacturing by disincentivising imports, tariff revenues will fall in tandem with declining imports. It seems that his over-riding goal is a form of mercantilism, attaining greater market access for US firms, and reducing market access to foreign firms. 'It is not clear how this will help the US economy,' he said. Economists believe that maximising exports while minimising imports in an interconnected global marketplace does not augur well for any economy, regardless of its size. Such policies risk economic inefficiency, trade wars and shortchange consumers. - The Straits Times/ANN
