KHARTOUM, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Friday welcomed Washington's decision to upgrade Sudan on the U.S. human trafficking list from tier 3 of countries violating the standards to tier 2 of watch list countries.

In a statement Friday, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said the move reflects the great efforts made by the Sudanese government in fighting human trafficking.

Meanwhile, the ministry also welcomed the amendments made by the U.S Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on the Sudanese Sanctions Regulations and the Terrorism List Government Sanctions Regulations.

According to the amendments, the OFAC will incorporate a general license authorizing certain transactions related to the exports of agricultural commodities, medicines, and medical devices.

The ministry said the amendments "come as important enhancement to the U.S. President's 2017 executive order lifting sanctions on Sudan."

It said the OFAC move is likely to help in reactivating movement of financial transfers to Sudan and funding of sectors of importance to the lives of Sudanese.

The ministry further expressed hope that the amendments would create a better climate for the second-phase talks between the two countries which are set to resume soon.

In October 2017, Washington lifted economic sanctions on Sudan that had been imposed for more than 20 years, but Khartoum is still suffering from the ban on banking transfers.