HONG KONG, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Bishop Joseph Zen of Hong Kong says China-Vatican relations are improving, but talks with Beijing should begin before Rome will break ties with Taiwan.
"It is unreasonable to request the Vatican to first estrange from Taiwan before starting the negotiations," the bishop said, the South China Morning Post reported Monday
The head of Hong Kong's Catholic Church returned last week from an international meeting of bishops in Rome.
He said there were some hurdles to overcome, but that new opportunities were arising for the Catholic Church in China.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano said last week that the Vatican would be ready any time to break ties with Taiwan and open an embassy in Beijing, if the Chinese government respected religious freedom.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan, responding to a question on the subject, said only that the Vatican must sever ties with Taiwan.
