Salva Kiir, president | File photo

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has arrived in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. He was received his counterpart President Omar al-Bashir.

President Kiir is being accompanied by 17 senior officials – including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Security, Interior, and Oil.

At the meeting between the two leaders, oil flow, security, the referendum in the contested oil rich region of Abyei and other issues are expected to be discussed.

“Salva Kiir is not a stranger in Khartoum, he knows Khartoum very well and knows the people of Khartoum very well,” said the deputy secretary-general of the Sudanese Council for International People’s Friendship, Mr. Albdalbasit Abdalmajid Bashir, in Khartoum.  “When the two leaders of Sudan and South Sudan meet I expect the rise of a new dawn for cooperation between the two nations. Cooperation in all aspects: political,  security, there should be mutual understanding, economic cooperation,  enhance trade relations and cooperation in agricultural field and cooperation in oil sector and all the fields and hopefully all outstanding issues will be resolved.

On the streets of Khartoum, Eye Radio spoke to Sudanese about their expectations from the visit.

“(It) is a step towards finding lasting solutions to all contested issues. I hope during the visit of President Salva Kiir, they will agree to re-open the border between Sudan and South Sudan because we are feeling the pains our brothers in South Sudan face, and we hope this visit will usher new era of cooperation between the two nations,” said one man.

“I believe it is very important indeed after what had happened between the two countries,” said another. “I hope all the outstanding issues will be resolved fully. The Sudanese people in general warmly welcome President Salva Kiir to Khartoum.”

This is the second visit by President Salva Kiir to Khartoum since South Sudan became independent two years ago.