The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France issued today a joint statement to mark the state visit His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense, has concluded to France on 9-10 April 2018, as follows: At the invitation of His Excellency the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paid a state visit to the French Republic on 9-10 April 2018. HRH the Crown Prince met with President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defense Florence Parly and Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire. At the Elysée Palace, His Excellency President Macron, HRH Crown Prince co-chaired the first meeting of the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council, which was attended by a number of ministers and senior officials of the two governments. President Macron held an official dinner banquet in honor of HRH the Crown Prince who conveyed greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to His Excellency and conveyed to President Macron an invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. President Macron welcomed the invitation and sent a message of friendship and great respect to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's visit was an opportunity to celebrate the long history of friendship and cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France. The two countries' commitments will open a new and promising chapter in their relationship within framework of developing a new strategic partnership covering the political, defense, security, economic, cultural, scientific and educational areas of their relationship into new horizons. --More 17:56 LOCAL TIME 14:56 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1751044