PARIS: Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault vital issues of mutual concern in a meeting on Tuesday.
They reviewed the latest developments in the region and a number of issues related to strengthening the partnership and their stances and initiatives on current issues.
Earlier, Prince Mohammed met with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and discussed with him military cooperation and joint efforts to fight terrorism.
Meanwhile, sources at the Élysée Palace said the Saudi royal’s meeting with President François Hollande focused on two themes — the Saudi diversification and reform plan and, secondly, regional political issues.
Prince Mohammed gave a detailed explanation on the Kingdom’s diversification and reform plan, its objectives and stages of implementation. Hollande appreciated the plan and voiced his country’s preparation to support it through the participation of French companies in the Kingdom to make it a success, the sources said.
Hollande expressed readiness to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries in all areas, the sources added.
On the political front, the meeting dealt with the Middle East issues, notably wars in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, the sources said. Hollande emphasized on the Yemeni issue.
Sources in the French government said talks Prince Mohammed and French Premier Manuel Valls focused on Vision 2030.
Prince Mohammed also presented his vision on the strategic Saudi-French relations, the sources said.
The sources expressed admiration over the Saudi desire to expand its industrial base and readiness to sign contracts with foreign companies in this regard, which are poised to go into force by 2018.
According to the sources, three quarters of the time with Valls was devoted to economic issues whereas the last quarter was given to political and regional issues, which were earlier discussed with Hollande.
Prince Mohammed also met with Chairperson of Gulf-French Friendship Committee of French Parliament Natalie Goulet. They reviewed a number of issues of common interest. In the meantime, economic sources said Prince Mohammed has formed a small team assigned to search for Saudi investment opportunities and contracts abroad that will push the industrialization drive in the Kingdom.
In a related development, the French Foreign Ministry said the joint committee to supervise economic and trade cooperation between Riyadh and Paris has adjourned a meeting to next autumn on the request by Paris to give more time for the Saudi diversification and reform plan.
On peace efforts, French sources said Paris wants to have detailed talks with the Saudi side on peace opportunities in the Middle East and how to activate the peace initiative it launched last month in a meeting that brought together 10 foreign ministers.
Riyadh, Paris review military cooperation, anti-terror steps
Riyadh, Paris review military cooperation, anti-terror steps
