During his vist to Juba on Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with a number of South Sudanese officials to discuss a various of issues of cooperation and mutual interest, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

The foreign minister met separately with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk, Health Minister Riek Gai as well as with members of South Sudan's National Dialogue Steering Committee before

While meeting with President Kiir, Shourky delivered a message from Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation, ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid said in the statement.

In a separate meeting with Defence Minister Juuk, Shoukry listened to developments in the country's security situation and in ongoing efforts towards a political settlement, as part of Egypt's support for the stability of the country, Abu Zeid added.

Shoukry also met with members of the country's National Dialogue Steerting Committee, during which he highlighted ways to bolster security and stability in South Sudan in accordance with the national dialogue initiative.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister also offered Egypt's continued assistance to the committee, for which co-chairman Angelo Beda expressed the committee's gratitude.

Also on Monday, the foreign minister met with South Sudanese Health Minister Riek Gai on the sidelines of the inauguration of a new kidney center donated by Egypt to a Juba hospital.

At the ceremony, Shoukry pledged Egypt's continued support for South Sudan's health sector, highlighting Egypt's delivery of new kidney dialysis units and the sending of medical convoy to South Sudan's city of Wau.

South Sudan is the first stop in Shoukry's tour of Africa that started on Monday. The Egyptian foreign minister heads to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi next.