Lebanon was the only country to be specifically mentioned in the statement issued by the Elysee Palace after the Friday meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and President Emmanuel Macron.
Saudi Arabia and France are collaborating to provide assistance to Lebanon, along with other nations, in finding a resolution to its ongoing crises.
The statement, issued on Friday, said that Riyadh and Paris called for a "rapid end to the institutional political vacuum in Lebanon," which remains the "major obstacle to resolving the country's severe socio-economic crisis."
Following his appointment by President Macron as his representative for the ongoing crisis in Lebanon, former French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is making preparations to visit the country. Macron has entrusted Le Drian with the task of presenting suitable proposals to address the situation in Lebanon.
The statement indicated that the two leaders reiterated their commitment to "security and stability in the Near and Middle East and expressed their desire to pursue their joint efforts to bring about a lasting easing of tensions."
On the bilateral level, the two sides expressed their satisfaction with the "dynamism" that characterizes their bilateral relations.
They also confirmed their agreement to "develop and deepen the partnership between the two countries," reiterating France's readiness "to support Saudi Arabia in strengthening its defense capabilities."
Macron was keen to reaffirm the desire of French companies to accompany the Kingdom in its ambitious projects within the framework of Vision 2030, enumerating the capabilities and skills they possess in many sectors.
The Elysee statement also referred to the close cultural cooperation between the two sides, such as the cooperation on the AlUla site.
The presidential statement also referred to the Ukrainian war, reiterating the need to find a solution to the conflict and boosting cooperation to mitigate the effects of the war in Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of the world.
The French President thanked the Crown Prince for participating in the upcoming summit in Paris next week for a "New Global Financing Pact," aimed at helping low-income countries reduce their debt and focus on facing climate challenges.
