By Mohammed Saud

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ludovic Pouille said that his country condemns in the strongest terms all the Houthi attacks targeting civilians in the Kingdom.

“France’s position is very clear in this regard, and the Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Nicolas de Rivière reiterated this position in the Security Council session in New York last month,” he said.

In an interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette, the envoy said the relations between France and Saudi Arabia are rich, ancient and based on mutual trust.

“The long history bears witness to exchanges and dialogues between the two countries, dating back to the19th century, when the first French Consulate opened its doors in 1839 in the Balad neighborhood of Jeddah.

“The bilateral relationship has taken on a new impetus in recent years, especially with the conclusion of a strategic partnership between the two countries, during the visit of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to Paris in April 2018,” he said.

He noted, “We feel this energy through our partnerships that revive the excellent and limitless French-Saudi cooperation.”

Hailing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Pouille said both its content and implementation are ambitious and impressive. “There is no doubt that this project of reforms came at a crucial moment, bringing with it long-term solutions for the challenges that the Kingdom’s future generations will face.

“Many ongoing development projects are the biggest proof of the great efforts being made to highlight and benefit from the capabilities that the Kingdom enjoys, and even during the difficult times caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Vision 2030 continued its march and moved the country towards a better future,” he said.

He added that this is clearly demonstrated both at the national level and at the level of the citizens who can always count on a thriving economy.