The Elysee Palace announced on Friday that French President Emmanuel Macron will carry out a state visit to Saudi Arabia in early December at the invitation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The visit, between December 2 and 4, will be an opportunity for both sides to bolster the partnership between Saudi Arabia and France, said the Elysee.
Crown Prince Mohammed and Macron held telephone talks on Thursday to discuss regional developments and efforts to restore security and stability.
They also discussed bilateral affairs and cooperation in several fields, said official sources.
A Saudi official delegation, including the ministers of foreign affairs, culture and investment, is currently in Paris to participate in the meeting of the joint Saudi-French committee to develop the AlUla province.
Advisor to the French President for the Middle East and North Africa Anne-Claire Legendre was in Riyadh this month for talks on the Middle East and bilateral relations.
Crown Prince Mohammed had visited France in June 2023 to bolster bilateral ties and to hold talks on “challenges to regional instability,” as well as international affairs, such as the war on Ukraine and its impact on the world.
Macron, for his part, has visited Saudi Arabia in 2017, 2018 and 2021.
French sources hailed the relations between France and the Kingdom, underscoring the latter’s role on regional, Arab and international levels, highlighting Riyadh's hosting this week of the Arab-Islamic summit.
They said Israel’s war on Gaza and Lebanon, regional tensions, and the security of the Gulf will be discussed by Crown Prince Mohammed and Macron.
