A former senior Chinese health official who has been invited to attend a summit on organ trafficking at the Vatican told the Global Times on Tuesday that he is visiting the Vatican solely in the capacity of an expert in the field, in response to assumptions that the visit amounts to a diplomatic communication.
The invitation of Huang Jiefu, a former Chinese vice minister of health and currently head of the National Human Organ Donation and Transplant Committee, to the two-day 2017 Pontifical Academy Summit on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism at the Vatican has led to speculations that the two sides are trying to improve ties, the Guardian reported.
However, Huang told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that the visit to the Vatican only involves his identity as an expert on organ transplant.
"Although I once worked as vice minister in the Ministry of Health, I am also a transplant surgeon. The Vatican extended the invitation to me because I am an expert on organ transplant rather than a former minister," Huang said.
"I believe the relationship between China and Vatican remains friendly and it will not be beyond expectation if the ties normalize in the future. It will be in line with our hope for long-lasting peace," he said, adding that he has no diplomatic tasks during this visit to the Vatican.
In an interview with Spanish media El Pais on January 22, Pope Francis said that he would like to visit China "as soon as they send me an invitation."
And China's foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily briefing later on January 23 that "China's position on its relationship with the Vatican is consistent and clear. The Chinese side is sincere about improving relations with the Vatican and has made a lot of efforts to that end."
