The United Nations Security Council has welcomed the resumption of negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan, but says the two sides must immediately work to implement a peace plan crafted by the African Union.
In a statement Monday, China's ambassador to the U.N. and current Security Council President Li Baodong said the countries have made progress in meeting the requirements of a March Security Council resolution, and he noted a reduction in border violence.
He said Council members stressed the urgency of immediately establishing border security mechanisms and said a demilitarized border zone "shall be established."
The two countries have failed to agree on a map for the demilitarized zone. The African Union says this "critical question" will be part of the agenda when negotiators resume discussions Thursday in Ethiopia.