President Salva Kiir visited Brussels on Tuesday to develop European Union support for the world’s newest country.
The current tensions between Khartoum and Juba were also on the agenda.
EU chief Herman Van Rompuy met with Kiir, telling reporters he reassured Kiir of the strong EU support for state building.
‘We will assist them in efforts to promote democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law’, said Rompuy.
The head of the EU also expressed concern at the continuing violence in the border areas between Sudan and South Sudan along with the deteriorating humanitarian situation.