April 3, 2018 / 2:51 AM / Updated an hour ago

China says has made real efforts toward establishing Vatican relations

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has made real efforts toward establishing relations with the Vatican, a Chinese religious affairs official said on Tuesday.

FILE PHOTO: A Chinese Catholic prays on Easter Sunday at the state-sanctioned Saint Ignatius Cathedral in Shanghai March 27, 2005. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV/File Photo

Chen Zongrong, who was vice-administrator of the State Administration for Religious Affairs until the government combined it with another agency in a recent restructuring, made the comment at a news briefing.

Xiao Hong, a former spokeswoman of the agency, said China was actively pursuing talks with the Vatican.

Reporting by Christian Shepherd