Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, started today an official visit to the French Republic at the invitation of French President Francois Hollande. Upon arrival in Paris, the Crown Prince made a statement saying that his visit comes within the framework of promoting and developing the close relations between the two countries, adding that the historic visit paid by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2007 contributed significantly to the development of bilateral coordination and cooperation. The Crown Prince underlined the importance of the visit paid by President Francois Hollande to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2013 which resulted in signing a number of agreements between the two countries. The Crown Prince asserted that this visit comes within the keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on developing bilateral cooperation and enhancing coordination between the two countries regarding all regional and international issues of common interest. He also said that the level of bilateral cooperation and coordination is at its best. He also expressed his happiness to visit the French Republic and to meet with the French President to convey the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to him, members of his government and the French people.