Top diplomats from the United States and Viet Nam are gathering at a conference in Ha Noi to place the stepping stones for their bilateral relationship over the next 20 years and more.

The event is centered on discussing the lessons learned in the past 20 years of diplomatic, economic, and security and political relations between Viet Nam and the U.S., and opportunities and challenges for the next 20 years.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius gives a speech in the opening session of the "Viet Nam-U.S. Relationship: For 20 More Successful Years" conference in Ha Noi on January 26, 2015.

Speaking at the conference, Dr. Dang Dinh Quy, the Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, said that both Viet Nam and the U.S. are working hard to boost mutual understanding and promote bilateral relations, Dr. Quy said.

In addition, this is a chance for the two countries to draw lessons about what has yet to be done and what will work best for the next 20 years, he added.

On the U.S. side, U.S. Ambassador to Viet Nam Ted Osius said the conference will deepen the profound relationship between the two countries and enhance cooperation from American investors.

One of the issues that concern the U.S. is the establishment of world-class American universities in Viet Nam, opening a new phase in bilateral relations between the two countries.

This conference is co-organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in Ha Noi and the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the 20^th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations (1995 - 2015).