Egypt’s Prime Minister Hisham Qandil announced on Sunday that a new land route between Cairo and the Sudanese capital, Khartoum would be opened later this month.

Qandil’s comments were made shortly before ending his visit to Addis Ababa, where he was attending the funeral of Ethiopia's late prime minister Meles Zenawi.

He stressed the need for healthy and equal cooperation between Egypt and Sudan. He also noted that cooperation between Egypt and African countries would not be limited to the governmental level, but would include the private sector.

Commenting on plans to build the land route between Cairo and Sudanese capital, he said it would help provide an appropriate atmosphere for Egyptian businessmen.

He stressed that enhancing the participation of the private sector would reinforce bi-lateral relations between Egypt and Sudan.

“This will be in addition to medical cooperation on the state level, such as sending medical convoys, in addition to a number of other things,” Qandil mentioned.

 Qandil, who was minister of irrigation and water resources in the interim government of Kamal El-Ganzouri, announced when he became prime minister in July that his government would attempt to look south.

Qandil travelled with President Morsi to the African Union summit in Ethiopia on 15 July. The trip sought to rekindle Cairo's relationship with its African neighbours after years of neglect under former president Hosni Mubarak.