Awwal 09, 1432 H/Feb 12, 2011, SPA -- French Prime Minister Francois Fillon hailed Saudi-French relations in all fields especially in the political, economic and cultural spheres. He commended the outcome of his talks with Deputy Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and senior officials in the kingdom which will promote cooperation between the two countries, highlighting the role of the Kingdom in the World and describing it as an essential element in the field of globalization and a distinguished partner. In a press conference held here today at Riyadh Air Base after a visit to the Kingdom, he expressed satisfaction with the increasing trade between the Kingdom and France, indicating that the exports of France to the Kingdom increased in the last three years by 75 percent, considering the Kingdom as the France's first partner of trade in the Gulf region. He noted that the company "Airbus" greatly contributed to the recent renewal of the fleet of Saudi Arabian Airlines and to the purchase contracts of the Airbus "A320" and "A330" aircraft. He pointed out that in the field of defense between the two countries, there are close relations between them and the best proof of that is the joint exercises "White Shark" as well as other projects. --More
