BEIJING — China and the Vatican signed a provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops on Sept 22 in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao and Antoine Camilleri, head of a Vatican delegation and the Under-Secretary for Relations with States, held talks and signed the agreement, according to a statement by the ministry.

China and the Vatican will continue to maintain contact and push forward the process of improving bilateral ties, the statement said.