Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown and Defense Minister, Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, started an official visit to France following his earlier visit to USA.
Saudi Arabia and France will sign several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on the sidelines of Prince Mohammad’s visit to Paris, according to Khaled al-Anqari, Saudi Ambassador to France.
“The visit will further bolster the historic relations between the two countries,” he said while emphasizing that these solid and strategic relations are based on mutual respect and promotion of common interests, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Al-Anqari noted that the Saudi-French political positions and views are identical towards most of the global issues, particularly with regard to the Middle East issues.
He said Prince Mohammad will meet senior French leaders, including President Francois Hollande, Premier Manuel Valls, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and leaders of public and private sector undertakings.
The 3rd edition of the Saudi-French Business Opportunities Forum will be held on the sidelines of the high-profile visit, said the Ambassador.
Several business leaders and economic experts from both the countries will attend the forum, which is aimed at exploring more avenues of investment opportunities in both the countries.
Mohammad Ali Binladin, President of the Saudi-French Business Council (SFBC), said the visit of Deputy Crown Prince to France will give a big push to the bilateral cooperation, reaching new horizons and fields, especially in the backdrop of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the ambitious National Transformation Program.
“The visit will boost the existing excellent and comprehensive strategic business partnership between the two countries and SFBC has played a significant role in taking the relations to this level,” he said while urging the French investors to take advantage of the best investment opportunities available in Saudi Arabia.
France is the Saudi Arabia’s third largest foreign investor and the top oil importer from the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of thanks to US President Barack Obama on Sunday as he left the United States and headed to France on an official visit.
“I am pleased as I am leaving your friendly country after the end of my official visit to extend to your Excellency my deep thanks for the warm reception and generous hospitality accorded to me and the accompanying delegation,” the Deputy Crown Prince said in his cable, carried by the state-run Saudi News Agency (SPA).
He commended the visit and said the discussions held throughout will deepen relations between both countries.
“I would like to commend again the historical and strategic relations between our two countries witnessing further development in all fields, stressing that the discussions held during the visit will contribute to deepening and strengthening these relations and enhancing the bonds of mutual cooperation to achieve the interests of our two countries and their friendly peoples under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and your Excellency.”
