Sudanese President Omar al- Bashir on Friday ordered the opening of border with South Sudan to allow the flow of travelers and commodities.

Al-Bashir issued the order before meeting with Southern Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Juba, where he reiterated Sudan’s keenness to normalize ties with its southern neighbor.

"This visit is the actual beginning of normalization of relations and resumption of cooperation between the two countries in a manner that serves the interests of our peoples,” said Al- Bashir.

Kiir, for his part, stressed the importance of dialogue to resolve all the outstanding issues between the two countries, saying that he agreed with al-Bashir to settle all their differences through dialogue.

Sudan and South Sudan on Friday started official talks in Juba, capital of South Sudan, chaired by their two presidents. Al-Bashir on Friday arrived in South Sudan in his first visit to the country since his participation in the celebration of its independence in July 2011.

Earlier in the day, Mawien Makol, spokesman of South Sudan’s ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, told Xinhua by phone that "the two sides will discuss issues related to their cooperation agreement.”

Relations between Sudan and South Sudan recently witnessed remarkable improvement after the two signed a deal to implement their security agreement in early March and later started withdrawing forces from the joint border to establish a demilitarized zone.

Agencies