CAIRO: Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf arrived in Khartoum on Sunday, his first trip to a foreign country since his appointment by Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which is charged with the country's administration. Sharaf, who is on a two-day visit to both halves of Sudan, met on Sunday with Ali Othman Taha, Vice President of Sudan, to discuss ties between the two neighboring countries. Sharaf is expected to visit Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, on Monday to assert Egypt's support of the south in the construction, education, health sectors and in other fields, the Egyptian Cabinet said. Sharaf was accompanied by a delegation of Egyptian officials, including the Foreign Minister Nabil el-Arabi, Minister of Transport Atef Abul Hameed, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hussein el-Atfi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Amr Ezzat Salama, Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Samir El Sayad, and Minister for International Cooperation Fayza Abu el-Naga. Talks were held between the Egyptian delegation and Sudanese officials on joint cooperation projects and the progress of bilateral relations in all fields, and were concluded by signing eight important joint agreements in the fields of industry, agriculture, information, health and education. Sudanese news websites said Sudanese Vice President Taha mentioned the role Egypt plays regionally and internationally, and stressed Sudan`s commitment to cooperate closely with Egypt and keeping the interests and benefits of both countries. He praised the remarkable and strategic relations the two countries enjoy despite the political changes Egypt has experienced, confirming that Sudan stands with Egypt in all fields at all levels. He called for increasing joint coordination between the two countries regarding the Nile River water, and said that the volume of Egyptian investment in Sudan amounted to $5 billion, calling for more facilities to be provided by the Egyptian side to the Sudanese investors in Egypt. Essam Sharaf said that Egypt is the 6th country in the list of investing countries in Sudan with 13 companies in all fields and trade exchange with Khartoum amounted to $638 million in 2010. Egypt`s Foreign Minister Nabil el-Arabi said that Egypt has started a new chapter with Sudan in both political and economic relations, praising the joint visions on all issues. El-Arabi also said that Egypt will recognize Southern Sudan as a separate state when it declares its independence next July, saying that Cairo intends to be the second state to recognize Southern Sudan after the Sudanese Government. BM
