ASIA/CHINA - Security Council chairman, Chinese Ambassador to the UN, leads minute of silence in honour of the Pope describing the late Pontiff as a “tireless promoter of peace and a pioneer of inter-religious dialogue”

Beijing (Fides Service) - “Pope John Paul II was a tireless promoter of peace and a pioneer of inter-religious dialogue” the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guang Ya, presently chairman of the UN Security Council said, as he led a minute silence in hour of the Pope. It happened to be the turn of the Chinese ambassador to lead this act of respect for the leader of the Catholic Church. Ambassador Wang Guang Ya went ever further and said: “The Pope was a great religious leader and I think it is right that this international body the United Nations Security Council, should render him honour, surely on behalf of billions of believers the world over”. With regard to relations between the Chinese People’s Republic and the Holy See the ambassador said: “Beijing is encouraged by the Pope’s efforts to promote reconciliation and his desire to improve relations between the Holy See and China in his pontificate”.
(Agenzia Fides 05/04/2005 Righe: 21 Parole: 217)