PARIS — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron held bilateral talks at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Monday before chairing the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council.Macron welcomed the Crown Prince upon his arrival at the Élysée Palace, while French ministers and senior officials were also present to receive him.During their bilateral meeting, the Crown Prince and Macron reviewed the historic and strategic relations between Saudi Arabia and France and discussed ways to further develop cooperation across various fields in the interests of both countries and their peoples.The two leaders also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments and discussed coordination of joint efforts concerning them.Following the talks, the Crown Prince and Macron chaired the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council between the governments of Saudi Arabia and France, where members reviewed a number of items on the council’s agenda.**media[2755441]**The two leaders subsequently signed the minutes of the council meeting.The Crown Prince and Macron then witnessed the exchange of four agreements and memoranda of understanding covering AlUla, defense, entertainment development and emerging technologies.The first agreement extends and amends the existing intergovernmental agreement on the cultural, environmental, tourism, human, economic and heritage development of AlUla. It was signed by Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.A declaration of intent between the Saudi Ministry of Defense and France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs aims to strengthen the two countries’ defense partnership. It was signed by Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khaled Al-Biyari and French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin.A third MoU covers the exploration of developing a new world-class, mixed-use entertainment destination in France. It was signed by Qiddiya Investment Company Managing Director Abdullah Al-Dawood and French Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Energy Sovereignty and Digital Affairs Roland Lescure.The fourth MoU, between Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the French Ministry of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Energy Sovereignty and Digital Affairs, covers cooperation in artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and the development of capabilities and skills.The MoU was signed on the Saudi side by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and on the French side by Lescure.The agreements came during the Crown Prince’s state visit to France and reflect the widening scope of the strategic partnership between Riyadh and Paris across political, economic, cultural, defense and technology fields.
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