The Vatican and China have agreed to extend a provisional agreement on the appointment of Catholic bishops in China for an additional four years.

The two sides made the announcement on Tuesday. The 2018 deal was previously renewed every two years.

The details were not disclosed, but the accord is believed to allow both parties to be involved in naming bishops.

The Vatican stated that it remains dedicated to furthering constructive dialogue with the Chinese party.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also said the two sides will maintain talks in a constructive way.

The Vatican's official media outlet says about ten bishops have been appointed based on the provisional agreement.

The Chinese government has rejected the Pope's appointment of bishops, citing interference in the country's internal affairs. Catholics in China are split between the government approved church and so-called underground churches which are loyal to the Pope.

The Vatican is the only European state that maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan. But last September, a special envoy of Pope Francis visited Beijing and held talks with a senior Chinese government official.