Beijing announced Friday that one of its top diplomat's will be visiting Vietnam Monday amid the ongoing territorial dispute between both countries.

China's foreign ministry released a statement confirming Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi will visit Vietnam to meet with Foreign Minister Phan Binh Minh.

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Monday's visit will mark the second time that Yang Jiechi, whose position is above that of a foreign minister, will go to Vietnam. He last went to the country five months ago in efforts to smoothen the tension over China's establishment of an oil rig in a part of the South China Sea, which both countries claim.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the two would talk about a "bilateral cooperation" between China and Vietnam, adding that the recent conflict between both countries was nothing but a "temporary difficulty" that was addressed appropriately.

The foreign ministry spokeswoman added that establishing a healthy relationship between China and Vietnam would be beneficial for both countries.

In June, Yang visited Vietnam and said that the country was "hyping up" the dispute regarding a Chinese oil drilling rig in the water near Vietnam, that is being claimed by China.

The territorial dispute has set off a confrontation between Chinese and Vietnamese fleet at sea, and has lead to a massive anti-China demonstration in Vietnam.

The meeting is a response to an agreement entered upon by leaders of both countries in Italy last week during an Asia-Europe  summit, where they agreed that the dispute will be "addressed and controlled."

Meanwhile, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zenmin is slated to attend a meeting in Bangkok, which will be attended by other foreign ministers, to explain the "code of conduct" regarding the situation in South China Sea.

According to Liu, Monday's meeting between the top envoys of China and Vietnam will also tackle the financial and trade cooperation between both countries.  

TagsChina Vietnam, Yang Jiechi, bilateral cooperation, Phan Binh Minh