The French Presidency reported on Friday evening that French President Emmanuel Macron and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud confirmed the continued work to reduce tensions in the region, Macron also reaffirmed France’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and willingness to strengthen it. its defensive capabilities.
The French presidency added that Macron and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia welcomed the strengthening of economic relations between the two countries, and stressed the need to end the political vacuum in Lebanon, as well as adhere to the security of the Middle East.
The text of the French President’s statement reads:
The President of the Republic received His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia at a working lunch in Paris on 16 June 2023.
The President of the Republic and the Crown Prince first of all welcomed the dynamics of bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France, and the President of the Republic thanked the Crown Prince for his upcoming participation in the New Global Financial Pact Summit on June 22-23. He pointed to the urgent need to combat climate change and the importance of this summit in building bridges between countries on different continents, especially in the fight against poverty, financing the energy transition and the ability to withstand the effects of climate change. . He highlighted the leading and innovative role that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can play in this regard.
The President of the Republic then expressed his deep concern about Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine and its catastrophic consequences for the civilian population and consequences for food security. The President of the Republic stressed the need to find a way out of the conflict and intensify cooperation to mitigate its consequences in Europe, the Middle East and the world.
The President of the Republic and the Crown Prince also expressed their joint commitment to security and stability in the Middle East and expressed their desire to continue joint efforts to permanently reduce tensions. They pointed to the need to quickly eliminate the institutional and political vacuum in Lebanon, which remains the main obstacle to resolving the acute socio-economic crisis, and the parties agreed to continue to develop and deepen the partnership between the two countries. The President of the Republic recalled France’s commitment to the security and stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its readiness to support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in strengthening its defense capabilities. The President of the Republic and the Crown Prince welcomed the significant strengthening of economic relations between France and the Kingdom, and the President of the Republic recalled the desire of French companies to continue to support Saudi Arabia in the implementation of its ambitious Vision 2030 program, and also emphasized the recognized experience of French companies, especially in the fields of energy, transport, healthcare and new technologies. The President of the Republic also welcomed the desire of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to increase its investment in the French industrial and manufacturing structure.
Finally, the President of the Republic and the Crown Prince expressed satisfaction with the extent of their cultural cooperation, especially in the territory of Al-Ula, in the fields of culture, research, tourism and the economy.
The President of the Republic also mentioned France’s commitment to human values.
