Sudan and South Sudan will normalise ties and start cross-border cooperation, Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir has said.

Al Bashir made the comments on Friday during his first visit to South Sudan since July 2011 when the south seceded and became an independent state.

"This visit shows the start of cooperation based on a normalisation of relations between the two countries," Al Bashir said in a speech in the capital, Juba.

South Sudan's Salva Kiir said he had agreed with Al Bashir to continue a dialogue to solve all outstanding conflicts between the African neighbours.

 

"Some issues need more discussions," Kiir said, adding that he had accepted an invitation from Al Bashir to visit Sudan soon, his second trip since the secession.

A military band played the national anthems of the two countries as the two heads of state greeted South Sudanese ministers assembled to welcome Al Bashir.

The two nations agreed in March to resume cross-border oil flows and take steps to defuse tension that has plagued them since South Sudan seceded from Sudan in July 2011 following a treaty which ended decades of civil war.

Speaking alongside Kiir, Al Bashir said he had ordered Sudan's borders with South Sudan to be opened for traffic.

"I have instructed Sudan's authorities and civil society to open up to their brothers in the Republic of South Sudan," he said.

UN Secretary-General commended both Presidents for their decision “to continue their efforts to resolve the Abyei issue in accordance with the implementation matrix,” and also urged the leaders to resolve their differences regarding the area's final settlement.

In addition, Mr. Ban welcomed the resumption of oil production by South Sudan and its transit and export through Sudan's oil pipeline “as an sign of progress towards the normalization of relations between the two parties” following the establishment of the Safe Border Zone