France and Saudi Arabia are bound by a real strategic partnership. Ever since King Faisal and General Charles de Gaulle met in 1967, our bilateral relations have evolved through personal contacts at the highest levels.

This tradition remains strong: French President François Hollande paid four visits to the Kingdom since his election.

The official visit on May 4 and 5 was particularly important. The president was accompanied by Laurent Fabius, French minister for foreign affairs and international development, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, defense minister.

In an atmosphere of friendship and trust, he met Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The French president was the guest of honor at the GCC summit on May 5, and this was a sign of France’s key role in the region.

This visit bolstered a new reinforcement of our strategic partnership in all sectors.

On the political side, our positions largely converge and we work together in favor of stability in the Middle East: we are firmly committed to fighting terrorism, mainly against ISIS (Daesh); we are together besides the Syrian people; we relentlessly promote an equitable peace process in the Middle East; we carefully see to the security of the Gulf region which should definitely remain devoid of nuclear weapons; we support Yemen’s legal authorities efforts to bring back stability to the country within the framework of the 2216 Security Council resolution; we scrupulously defend Lebanon’s sovereignty.

With regard to defense, common security and fight against terrorism, our countries have a long history of cooperation.

This cooperation takes shape namely in military trainings and increasingly ambitious bilateral exercises.

The military equipment provided to Saudi armed forces, also used by our own armies, have proven their efficiency and excellence. We work together on the reinforcement of this partnership.

Our privileged relationship reveals itself around shared interest in the economic sector.

Saudi Arabia is our first trade partner among the GCC countries.

France is the third biggest foreign investor in the Kingdom.

In this sector, the primary role is attributed to French companies.

Important contracts are signed by French companies in the water treatment, electricity and transportation sectors.

Our companies are also active in the health, distribution, energy, hotel business, luxury, etc. The importance of strengthening our relationship in the finances, economy, trade sectors and particularly in the increase of strategic investments, profitable to both our countries in all sectors, namely transportation, energy, health, civil aviation and satellite industry, has been emphasized during the French President’s visit on May 4 and 5.

On this occasion, an implementation joint commission has been set up, under the co-presidency of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and French Foreign Affairs and International Development Minister Laurent Fabius. The first meeting was held in Paris on June 24.

Important agreements and contracts have already been signed in various sectors.

The next meeting will be held in Riyadh on Oct. 13, concomitantly with the second Saudi-French Business forum.

It was also agreed to set up an investment procedure in French companies enabling a diversification of Saudi investments.

Environment is also a common concern.

We work together in order to ensure the success of the coming conference on climate changes which will be held in Paris at the end of the year.

In this respect, both our countries are looking forward to develop a sustainable industrial partnership in the energy sector, be it nuclear or solar.

France is also a very popular touristic destination among Saudi nationals.

In order to encourage this desire of France, I have decided to grant long term visas to Saudi nationals who request it.

Culture plays also an essential role in our exchanges.

The number of Saudi students in France is constantly on the rise.

Exchanges between universities grow year after year, especially in the scientific field.

We are also developing a cooperation aimed at attending to the modernization programs of the Kingdom’s administration.

We also contribute to the promotion of the Saudi heritage through projects aiming at the preservation of certain sites and through our archaeological missions.

We should recall the great exhibition on the archaeological treasures of Saudi Arabia that took place in 2010 in the Louvre, and the opening in 2012 of the Department of Islamic Arts of the Louvre Museum, partly financed by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. Last but not least, is the rich and varied cultural program offered by the French Embassy in the Kingdom.

French citizens living in the Kingdom play, in this respect, an essential role in the Saudi-French relationship, regardless of their activity field.

I would also like to pay tribute to the activities of our Saudi friends involved, since decades for some of them, in serving the friendship between our two countries

I would like to conclude by a word on Saudi Arabia’s evolution.

Since my arrival here, about eight years ago, I have witnessed the Kingdom’s impressive development and modernization, while remaining true to itself.

Our modest ambition is to accompany Saudi Arabia in this journey under the leadership of King Salman.

Our cooperation in all fields contributes to it.

Today, the world’s fast development, particularly in the Middle East makes it more than ever necessary to maintain this strong, lasting and friendly relation between Saudi Arabia and France.

— Bertrand Besancenot Ambassador of France to Saudi Arabia