Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed on Tuesday his country's support for efforts aimed at enhancing peace and stability across South Sudan in a way that allows for achieving development.

During a meeting in Cairo with his South Sudanese counterpart, Beatrice Wani-Noah, Shoukry stressed that Egypt will continue to provide various forms of support to the vital sectors in South Sudan, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

The two top diplomats tackled ways of enhancing bilateral relations and discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, on top of which the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam issue and the developments in East Africa and the Horn of Africa.

They also agreed on holding a round of political consultations between Egypt and South Sudan during the coming period.

The meeting came as the first round of the Joint Higher Committee’s preparatory meetings at the expert and ministerial levels between Egypt and South Sudan kicked off on Tuesday.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and South Sudan's Vice President James Wani Igga chaired the first session of talks of the Egyptian-South Sudanese Higher Committee, during which several cooperation agreements between the two countries were signed.

The committee’s first session is held as part of the Higher Committee Establishment Agreement signed in 2012 between both countries.