Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok arrived in Juba on Thursday for a two-day official visit and pledged to boost ties with South Sudan.

Hamdok reaffirmed Khartoum’s commitment to bolstering relations with Juba, saying his visit will focus on trade, border safety, oil, and free movement of people.

“We are here today looking for a very distinguished relationships in our two nations and the sky is the limit.” Hamdok said.

Sudan is committed to supporting President Salva Kiir’s efforts to bring peace to South Sudan, he said.

“We hope by the end of the two-day meeting we will be able to communicate to you (public) what we have agreed and discussed.” Hamdok said.

South Sudan’s vice president James Wani Igga, for his part, hailed Hamdok’s visit, saying it opened a new chapter in relations between Khartoum and Juba.

“I am happy to hear from him that we (South Sudan and Sudan) are ready to cooperate and the sky is the limit.” Wani said. “It is actually true, and this is our belief and the belief of the president.”

“With his enormous experiences he is going to govern Sudan well and I believe he is going to come up with very strong and effective policies, especially on border-related relations, the trade between the two countries including the oil issues.” he added.

South Sudanese President Kiir is mediating and hosting talks between Sudan’s sovereignty council and leaders of armed groups in Sudan’s Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions in an effort to restore peace and stability.

The Sudanese government and armed groups agreed to hold peace talks on October 14, according to a declaration signed in Juba last week.