Egypt and Sudan here Sunday signed 13 cooperation agreements in various domains, including agriculture, communications, health and education.

The agreements were inked at the end of the fourth session of the joint Egyptian-Sudanese Higher Committee, headed by Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and visiting Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Taha.

During the two-day session, the two sides discussed an economic integration program to boost their trade.

They are expected to devise mechanisms in this regard and encourage investment and cooperation between companies of the two countries through setting up joint projects in the fields of health, mining, transport, electricity and land reclamation.

In a joint press conference with Taha at the end of the meeting which opened Saturday, Nazif told reporters that Egypt and Sudan agreed to open markets for their products in both nations and encourage the private sector in the fields of trade and investment.

Egypt will offer full support for development in Sudan within the framework of the peace process, he promised.

For his part, Taha expressed his satisfaction over the convocation of the committee meetings for the first time in Cairo, saying it was a sign of welcome of a positive Egyptian role in Sudan in the fields of development and investment.

Highlighting the meeting which focused on strengthening the role of the private sector, the infrastructure and communications between the two countries, Taha called on Egyptian businessmen, companies and the investment sector to study with their Sudanese counterparts prospects of investment provided by the atmosphere of peace realized in Sudan.

Earlier in the morning, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with Taha and received a message from Sudanese President Omar Bashir on the Sudanese developments and bilateral relations.

Source: Xinhua