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Catholics in the southeastern Chinese city of Guangzhou join the consecration of their new bishop. Father Joseph Gan Junqiu has received the approval of both the Chinese government and the Vatican, a sign of improved relations between the two. Not all Chinese Catholic bishops receive papal approval. The Vatican and China broke off diplomatic ties in 1951 afer the Vatican officially recognised the Taiwanese government. Last year relations were strained further with the high-profile ordination of three bishops without the Vatican's approval. Lu Guocun, Vice Chairman of the Patriotic Catholic Association. (SOUNDBITE) (Cantonese) LU GUOCUN, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE PATRIOTIC CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION, SAYING: "We were very happy to receive approval from the Vatican. We don't oppose it, but this bishop was picked by us last year in October." China's 8 to 12 million Catholics are split between an official church sanctioned by the state and an underground church that rejects government ties and answers only to Rome. The government's foreign affairs spokesman Qin Gang said that Beijing welcomed the warmer relationship. (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN QIN GANG SAYING: "We hope that Vatican can view the Sino-Vatican relationship from a broader situation and can take into full consideration the history and reality of China's Catholics society." The Vatican has said that it is ready to transfer its embassy from Taiwan to China in the event of a deal with Beijing, but it did not offer to sever ties with the island. Stefanie McIntyre, Reuters