Vietnam's diplomatic sector must beef up political relations to lay a foundation for economic integration and development, local newspaper People on Wednesday quoted the country's Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien as saying.

The sector must put political ties into play to accelerate Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), " especially to seek ways of persuading relevant countries to rapidly make political decisions on concluding negotiations on Vietnam's entry into the WTO," the minister stressed.

In the coming time, the diplomacy will both broaden and deepen ties with other countries, he said, noting that Vietnam must place focus on "big nations, neighbor countries, and political and economic hubs in the world like the European Union."

Vietnam should make the world, especially the United States and Western countries understand that rights of Vietnamese people are safeguarded, Nien said. "In my opinion, American people have yet to fully understand Vietnam, especially in the human rights issue."

Besides the diplomacy, other sectors and organizations, even residents should strengthen ties with and promote Vietnam's image to the outside world, he said. "It is necessary to boost relations between Vietnam's National Assembly and other countries' , between Vietnamese lawmakers with foreign ones."

Source: Xinhua