WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush will meet with Salva Kiir, Sudan's first vice president, here on Jan. 5, the White House announced on Wednesday.

    The scheduled meeting will focus on the implementation of a comprehensive peace deal which was signed four years ago.

    "This transformational peace agreement, which ended 22 years of devastating war, continues to face serious challenges in the lead-up to national elections in 2009," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters.

    "President Bush and First Vice President Kiir will also discuss the situation in Darfur and our joint efforts to advance the cause of peace there," the spokesman said.

    The 2005 peace agreement ended a 22-year war between southern Sudan and the government in Khartom.

    Relations between Sudan and the United States have long been strained, most recently over the near five-year conflict in the western region of Darfur where Washington has accused Khartoum of genocide.