Regional issues to figure high in Fabius talks

RIYADH: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius will arrive in Riyadh on Tuesday to hold talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and other senior government officials.

“Around 10 senior French government officials will accompany the minister, who will be arriving here from Dubai in the forenoon,” Mounir Slimani, second counselor at the French Embassy, told Arab News on Monday.
During his 24-hour visit to the capital, the French minister will also meet Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, and Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir.
“The visit comes within the framework of close and continuous dialogue that France has with Saudi Arabia on major issues of common interest,” the counselor said, adding that regional issues such as Syria, Yemen and Iran, and efforts to fight terrorism will be discussed.
“The talks will be an opportunity to strengthen bilateral political and economic ties, and prepare for the third meeting of the Franco-Saudi joint commission to be held in Paris in March.”
Fabius’ visit takes place three months after two major bilateral events organized in Riyadh in October showed the intensity of the trust and relations that France and Saudi Arabia built, especially in economic and political fields. The second Franco-Saudi business forum was held under the patronage of French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman; the second meeting of the Franco-Saudi joint commission was chaired by Fabius and Deputy Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
Thanks to the exceptional participation of 1,500 French and Saudi businessmen, the second business forum was a big success for Paris and Riyadh and strengthened the privileged commercial relationship between the two countries by developing industrial partnerships in strategic and innovative sectors.
During the second Franco-Saudi joint commission meeting the value of contracts signed between the two countries reached $11 billion, which was in addition to the $12 billion in contracts signed during the first meeting held in Paris last June.
The value of trade between France and Saudi Arabia was $11 billion in 2014. Saudi Arabia is the largest oil supplier to France, while France is the third largest foreign investor in the Kingdom, with direct investments of more than $15 billion.