(VOVworld) – The first round of talks on US-Cuba diplomatic normalization will be held in mid-January, said US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Thursday.

The US Coast Guard says the number of Cubans trying to enter the US has soared over the past month.

She said US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson will visit Cuba January 21-22 to co-chair the first meeting on normalization of bilateral ties. The first talks will focus on immigration issues and the rapprochement announced by US President Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raúl Castro. The meeting’s agenda has not been announced, but it will likely include re-opening embassies in Washington and Havana.