French President Emmanuel Macron said that the visit of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to France carries significant strategic importance, describing it as an important step in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting peace and stability. In a post on X, Macron described the visit as an “important milestone.” “At a time when the region faces major challenges, France and Saudi Arabia have always worked together to promote peace and stability, and they will continue their consultations in this regard,” he wrote. Macron noted that the Paris-Riyadh partnership is built through concrete cooperation in major projects, advanced technologies, mutual investments, and joint international events, such as the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris. He added: “We have already achieved a great deal together, and we can move forward toward even greater horizons.” The state visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman to France, at the invitation of President Macron, reflects the commitment of both countries’ leaderships to advancing bilateral relations, strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership, and leveraging their political and economic capabilities in support of shared interests amid the rapid development of ties between the two nations. Saudi Arabia remains committed to deepening its strategic partnerships with major and influential global powers while maintaining balanced relations that serve the Kingdom’s national interests and reinforce its leading role in the Middle East and beyond. Both countries hope the visit will help maximize the opportunities offered by Saudi Vision 2030 and France 2030, further strengthening economic cooperation in areas including joint investment, industry, energy, culture and heritage, tourism, education, technology, space, defense and security, and other sectors. The Saudi-French relationship is regarded as one of the most important bilateral partnerships globally. It is founded on a long history of trust and cooperation and is characterized by continuous development, effective collaboration across multiple strategic sectors, and a convergence of views on many issues of mutual concern. The ambitious partnership between the two countries is being reinforced by expanding opportunities for trade and investment cooperation in sectors such as energy, industry and mining, agriculture, health and healthcare, biotechnology, telecommunications and information technology, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, space, smart and sustainable cities, tourism, and culture.
