<p>Medvedev conveyed this in a congratulatory letter to his S. Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit.<br /><br />Early Saturday, South Sudan became the 193rd country recognised by the UN and the 54th UN member state in Africa.<br /><br />Oil-rich Sudan, Africa's largest country, has served as a 20th-century battleground for land, resources and ethnic identity. <br /><br />South Sudan, where most follow Christian and traditional beliefs, became independent after a January referendum agreed under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war with the Arab Muslim north.<br /><br />"The fact that South Sudan has obtained national sovereignty has opened a gate to enhanced dialogue, based on principles of mutual respect, friendship, and mutually beneficial cooperation, permeated by successful projects," Medvedev's letter said.<br /><br />Russian businessmen are looking for joint projects with colleagues from South Sudan, especially in such areas as extraction of commercial minerals, energy and agriculture, the Russian president continued.<br /><br />"I expect that our partnership will be one of the vital factors, enhancing stability on the African continent."<br /><br />A range of countries, including Russia, the US, China, Switzerland and others have already formally recognised the Republic of South Sudan.<br /><br />More than 30 African leaders and senior world politicians gathered Saturday in South Sudan's capital - Juba - to celebrate its first day as a nation.<br /><br />US President Barack Obama, while granting his country's recognition of South Sudan as an independent state, said: "I am proud to declare that the United States formally recognizes the Republic of South Sudan as a sovereign and independent state upon this day, July 9, 2011." <br /><br />"Today is a reminder that after the darkness of war, the light of a new dawn is possible," he added.</p>
<p>Medvedev conveyed this in a congratulatory letter to his S. Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit.<br /><br />Early Saturday, South Sudan became the 193rd country recognised by the UN and the 54th UN member state in Africa.<br /><br />Oil-rich Sudan, Africa's largest country, has served as a 20th-century battleground for land, resources and ethnic identity. <br /><br />South Sudan, where most follow Christian and traditional beliefs, became independent after a January referendum agreed under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war with the Arab Muslim north.<br /><br />"The fact that South Sudan has obtained national sovereignty has opened a gate to enhanced dialogue, based on principles of mutual respect, friendship, and mutually beneficial cooperation, permeated by successful projects," Medvedev's letter said.<br /><br />Russian businessmen are looking for joint projects with colleagues from South Sudan, especially in such areas as extraction of commercial minerals, energy and agriculture, the Russian president continued.<br /><br />"I expect that our partnership will be one of the vital factors, enhancing stability on the African continent."<br /><br />A range of countries, including Russia, the US, China, Switzerland and others have already formally recognised the Republic of South Sudan.<br /><br />More than 30 African leaders and senior world politicians gathered Saturday in South Sudan's capital - Juba - to celebrate its first day as a nation.<br /><br />US President Barack Obama, while granting his country's recognition of South Sudan as an independent state, said: "I am proud to declare that the United States formally recognizes the Republic of South Sudan as a sovereign and independent state upon this day, July 9, 2011." <br /><br />"Today is a reminder that after the darkness of war, the light of a new dawn is possible," he added.</p>