DECLARATIONS BY HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

VATICAN CITY, JUN 27, 2000 (VIS) - Yesterday, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declarations:

"Today, June 26, Hung-Mao Tien, minister for foreign affairs of the Republic of China, came to the Vatican.

"Mr. Tien was received by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"The talks provided the occasion for an exchange of opinions on recent developments in Taiwan following the presidential elections of last March, as well as on the political situation in the region.
"Mr. Tien also had words of appreciation for the Catholic Church's work in support of the human and spiritual development of the people of Taiwan."

"His Holiness John Paul II today received in private audience Atal Behari Vajapayee, prime minister of India.

"In the course of their conversation, the Holy Father once again underlined the importance of freedom of religion. He also recalled India's traditions of religious tolerance, unfortunately gravely damaged by the recent acts of violence of which Christians have been the victims, in particular the Catholic Church."

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