The Vatican has described an invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to visit China as "very positive and encouraging".

Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said talk of a papal trip to China was "premature for now". There were "still many unresolved problems", he told Vatican Radio. However the invitation from Joseph Li Shan, the Bishop of Beijing, showed that "all Chinese Catholics love and respect the Pope and recognise his authority" Father Lombardi sad.

A spokesman for the official Chinese Catholic Church told AFP "We hope he can visit China as soon as possible. That would be good for the Chinese Catholic Church. However, the first step is to establish diplomatic relations".

Bishop Li told RAI, Italian state television: "We very much hope that the Pope will come to China. It's a great aspiration, and we hope it will materialise. Relations with the Vatican are constantly improving".

However China has long demanded that the Vatican end its official relationship with Taiwan before diplomatic relations, broken off in 1951, can be restored. In an increasingly common pattern Li was appointed last September by Beijing, but with the Vatican's approval.

The consecration ceremony was held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing. Bishop Li, 42, who succeeded the late Bishop Michael Fu Tieshan, pledged that he would lead the faithful in maintaining "national unity and social stability."

Last year Pope Benedict sent a letter to Catholics in China praising the underground pro-Rome church but also urging reconciliation with followers of the official church.