HRH the Crown Prince and French President Meet, Co-Chair First Strategic Partnership Council Meeting

 His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met on Monday with French President Emmanuel Macron in the French capital, Paris.

 Upon his arrival at the Élysée Palace, HRH the Crown Prince was received by the French president, who welcomed him to France and wished him and his accompanying delegation a pleasant stay. HRH the Crown Prince expressed his pleasure at the visit.

 HRH the Crown Prince was also received by several French ministers and senior officials, while the French president greeted the princes and ministers accompanying HRH the Crown Prince.

 HRH the Crown Prince and the French president held a bilateral meeting, during which they reviewed the historic and strategic relations between the two countries and ways to develop them in all fields in a manner that serves their interests and those of their two friendly peoples.

 They also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments and coordinated their joint efforts in this regard.

 Following the meeting, HRH the Crown Prince and the French president chaired the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the French Republic, during which a number of items on the agenda were reviewed in the presence of the council's members.

 HRH the Crown Prince and the French president then signed the minutes of the council's meeting.

 Following this, HRH the Crown Prince and the French president witnessed the ceremony for the exchange of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding, as follows:

 First:

 An agreement to extend and amend the agreement concluded between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the French Republic on the cultural, environmental, tourism, human, economic, and heritage development of AlUla Governorate. It was signed on the Saudi side by Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan and on the French side by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.

 Second:

 A declaration of intent between the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs of the French Republic on enhancing the defense partnership. It was signed on the Saudi side by Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari and on the French side by Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin.

 Third:

 A memorandum of understanding to explore the development of a new global, mixed-use, entertainment-focused destination in France. It was signed on the Saudi side by Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Dawood and on the French side by Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure.

 Fourth:

 A memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty of the French Republic on cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and capacity and skills development. It was signed on the Saudi side by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and on the French side by Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty Roland Lescure.