ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki reiterated commitment towards sustaining the historic peace agreement that ended two decades of armed standoff among the two East African countries.

The two leaders reiterated their respective country's commitment as they met in Saudi Arabia late on Sunday to sign the Jeddah Peace Accord in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah.

The two leaders' meeting in the Middle Eastern nation and the eventual peace accord so as to further strengthen the recently commenced relations followed a series of activities aimed at developing positive relations.

As relations improved and ties deepen, the two countries' leaders had celebrated the traditional New Year of the two countries on Sept. 11 together with soldiers drawn from the two countries along the border areas.

On Sept. 6, Ethiopia reopened its embassy in Asmara after the reopening of Eritrea's embassy in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on July 16.

Recent positive developments are considered as a new beginning since the two countries' bloody two-year border war from 1998-2000 killed an estimated 70,000 people from both sides. The war was ended by a December 2000 Algiers peace agreement, but it left the two countries in a state of bitter armed standoff.

Amid the easing tensions, telecom services between the two countries have resumed. The two countries' flag carriers - Ethiopian Airlines and Eritrean Airlines - have also started flights to Asmara and Addis Ababa respectively.