(VOVworld)- Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited the Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese and the Vietnam Protestant Church (Southern Region) in HCM City on Thursday to mark Christmas 2012. The Deputy Prime Minister praised Catholic followers for their contributions to national development. Despite economic difficulties over the past years, Catholic followers have united and together with the Party and State overcome difficulties facing the country. He expressed that Cardinal Pham Minh Man, Archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese and Pastor Thai Phuoc Truong of the Vietnam Protestant Church (Southern Region), other dignitaries to reinforce solidarity and spur on economic development for the good of the nation.