Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman held wide ranging talks with the visiting French President Emmanuel Macron at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday evening.

During the meeting, Prince Mohammed and Macron reviewed the bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and France and discussed joint efforts to enhance cooperation in various fields.

They explored opportunities to invest available resources in both countries to achieve mutual interests.

The discussions also covered regional and international developments, issues of common concern, and the efforts being made to address them.

Ministers and high ranking officials from Saudi Arabia and France attended the expanded meeting. The Crown Prince introduced the French president to Saudi ministers during an official reception ceremony held at the palace.

Following their meeting, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President attended the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Strategic Partnership Council between the governments of Saudi Arabia and France. The agreement was signed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.

Earlier on Monday, Macron arrived in Riyadh for a three-day official visit at the invitation from the Crown Prince. Upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport, the president was received by Deputy Emir of Riyadh Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman. Those, who received Macron and the accompanying high profile delegation also included Minister of Commerce Majed Al-Qasabi, Riyadh Mayor Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Saudi Ambassador to France Fahd Al-Ruwaili, French Ambassador to the Kingdom Patrick Maisonnave and several other officials.

Macron will attend the One Water Summit, which will be held in Riyadh on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

In an earlier statement, the Elysee Palace sources described Macron's third visit to Saudi Arabia as "exceptional" state visit at the highest diplomatic level, reflecting the quality of the relations between the two countries, especially the special and personal relations between the French president and the Saudi crown prince.

The visit, according to Paris, comes at a “crucial moment” as both parties are seeking to elevate them to the level of “strategic partnership” that will be formally announced during the visit.