China and the Vatican have agreed to extend their deal on appointing Catholic bishops in China for another four years.

The Chinese government confirmed on Tuesday that it had reached a provisional agreement with the Vatican to extend the appointment process for bishops in the country for another four years. This agreement, which was previously renewed every two years, allows China's communist authorities potential input in the selection of bishops appointed by Pope Francis.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced the agreement during a press conference in Beijing, stating that both China and the Catholic Church are aiming to improve their relationship.

The Vatican also confirmed the renewal, issuing a statement that said, "The Vatican ... remains dedicated to furthering the respectful and constructive dialogue" with China.

Although the Vatican insists that the pope holds ultimate authority in the appointment of bishops, the details of the agreement have never been made public, leading to concerns about Beijing's potential influence over the process.

Some Catholics have expressed criticism of the arrangement, arguing that it cedes too much control to the Chinese government. One of the most prominent critics is Cardinal Joseph Zen, who served as bishop of Hong Kong from 2002 to 2009.

The provisional agreement was initially signed in 2018 and has since been renewed twice. Historically, China has asserted its exclusive right to appoint bishops, viewing it as a matter of national sovereignty, while the Vatican maintains that the pope has the authority to appoint successors to the original Apostles.

The 2018 agreement sought to find common ground between the two parties, though the Vatican has acknowledged that it was not an ideal arrangement but the best one available at the time.

China, which has a population of approximately 1.4 billion people, is home to over 10 million Catholics.