South Sudan keen to strengthen ties with Angola: minister

LUANDA, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Visiting South Sudanese Minister of Cabinet Affairs Deng Alor Koul said here on Friday his newly independent country hoped to strengthen ties with Angola in various fields, and the oil sector in particular.

In a brief statement to the press at the end of three-day visit to Luanda, Deng Alor Koul said his visit to Angola was a success and positive as his delegation achieved objectives for strengthening bilateral cooperation with Angola.

The minister said his country would soon appoint an ambassador for Luanda as currently the matters of South Sudan related to Angola are handled by the head of diplomatic mission accredited in South Africa , and an Angolan government delegation would visit his country later this year for closer cooperation between the two countries.

During his visit to Luanda, the South Sudanese minister met with Angola President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and delivered a message from his country's leader Salva Kiir Mayardit on bilateral ties.

The South Sudanese delegation also met with Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chicoty, Minister of Youth and Sports Goncalves Muandumba.