The United States Department of State confirmed a Cuban government delegation will visit the U.S. this week as efforts to reestablish diplomatic relations continue.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson will host the Cuban government delegation, which will be led by Josefina Vidal, the general director of the U.S. Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement from the U.S. State Department, talks between Cuban and U.S. officials will be about normalizing diplomatic relations, and it will occur in the State Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. In addition, Jacobson and Vidal will discuss the ongoing plans to reopen respect embassies and the "functions of diplomats" in both countries.

"It is in the interest of both countries to re-establish diplomatic relations and re-open embassies," the U.S. State Department noted in a statement. "A U.S. Embassy in Havana will allow the United States to more effectively promote our interests and values, and increase engagement with the Cuban people. As with the more complex process of normalizing relations, re-establishing diplomatic relations requires the agreement of the governments of both Cuba and the United States."

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The Washington, D.C. meeting comes as Cuba hosted similar talks on Jan. 22. The Havana meeting saw Jacobson become the first senior American diplomat in the island in 38 years. The Jan. 22 meeting also included discussions to reopen respective embassies, accrediting and granting U.S. diplomats access to travel the island and to remove the caps on the number of U.S. diplomatic personnel in Cuba.

"Normalization, as you know we believe strongly, is not a reward. You can ask governments around the world whether they think having a U.S. diplomatic presence is a reward. But we think having a robust U.S. diplomatic presence is in the U.S. national interest. It's a better way of advancing those interests and a better way of empowering the Cuban people," said a senior U.S. State Department official during a press call on Jan. 19, ahead of Jacobson's trip to Cuba.

As Latin Post reported, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced efforts to renew diplomatic relations on Dec. 17. Since the announcement, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Treasury Department have amended regulations on travel and shipments to Cuba.

Last week, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., led a coalition of congressional Democrats to Cuba with the intent to "advance" relations between the U.S. and Cuba. The Democratic delegation met with Cuban government officials, Cuba's Catholic Cardinal Jaime Ortega and local community leaders.

The State Department's meeting with the Cuban government delegation is scheduled for Feb. 27.

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