PARIS - Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, met French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris on Monday evening. They discussed bilateral relations, particularly in the field of defense. The leaders held wide ranging talks on ways of further enhancing the Saudi – French defense ties and cooperation. They also reviewed efforts of the two countries in the field of combating terrorism. Earlier on the day, Prince Muhammad held talks with French President Francois Hollande and Premier Manuel Valls. In the hour-long meeting, Prince Muhammad and Hollande discussed ways to further bolster bilateral strategic partnership in various spheres. Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Al-Assaf met his French counterpart Michel Saban. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Assaf stressed the deep relations between the Kingdom and France in various fields, especially in the economic field and trade exchanges. "The meeting focused on the vast investment opportunities that lay open in the Kingdom following the approval of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program," he said. Assaf also met Loran Fabius, president of the French Constitutional Council. Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Turaifi met French Minister of Culture and Communications Audrey Azoulay on the sidelines of the current visit of the Deputy Crown Prince. They discussed aspects of joint cooperation between the two countries in the cultural field and ways to enhance them, in accordance with Vision 2030. Al-Turaifi also had an audience with Jack Lang, president of the Paris-based Arab World Institute, during which they discussed the ways to strengthen the partnership between Kingdom and the Arab World Institute in the cultural field. Prince Muhammad also met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations. They also reviewed the latest developments in the Middle East region. [caption id="attachment_65486" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman holds talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.[/caption]
