RIYADH: Ever since Saudi King Faisal and French President Charles de Gaulle met in 1967, relations between the two countries have evolved through personal contacts and visits at the highest levels.
King Khalid visited France in 1978 and 1981, and King Fahd visited twice when he was crown prince, in 1975 and 1981.
The first French president to visit the Kingdom was Valery Giscard d’Estaing in 1977, who visited again in 1980 and 1981.
King Fahd went on two official visits to France in 1984 and 1987, while King Abdullah visited twice, in 1985 and 1999.
The visit by President Jacques Chirac to the Kingdom in 1997 was followed by visits in 2001 and 2006.
In 1986, Chirac and King Salman, who was then governor of Riyadh, opened a Saudi exhibition in Paris that was visited by thousands of French citizens who were exposed to Saudi traditions and religious values.
The “Roads of Arabia” exhibition, highlighting Saudi archaeological masterpieces and cultural heritage, was started in 2010 and was hosted at the Louvre Museum in Paris, which signifies the strength of cultural relations between the two countries.
The closer relations are also evident from the fact that former French President Francois Hollande paid four visits to the Kingdom after his election in 2012.
His last official visit in May 2015 was particularly historic as besides meeting King Salman and senior officials, he attended the 15th meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a rare invitation to a foreign leader.
This visit bolstered a new reinforcement of strategic partnership between the Kingdom and France as well as with the GCC countries.
In 2014, King Salman, who was then crown prince and defense minister, visited France at the invitation of Hollande.
In bolstering ties, King Salman and President Hollande played a crucial role by strengthening the Saudi-French global strategic partnership.
The two leaders in May 2015 adopted an ambitious action plan to boost bilateral relations through a win-win approach.
Now, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is paying an official visit to France, during which he is expected to focus on investment as well as on key issues of mutual importance, a French Embassy senior official said Friday.
France and Saudi Arabia enjoy a very cordial and close relationship, which has gained momentum in recent years with the increasing pace of bilateral visits.
A number of military and security officials also exchanged regular visits that boosted cooperation around training for marine, air and ground troops.
Earlier, the Kingdom signed a security agreement with France in 2008.
Moreover, the Kingdom and France share longstanding economic ties, to which Saudi Vision 2030 provided an incentive to further strengthen a win-win relationship.
France is the third-biggest investor in the Kingdom, with more than $15 billion of investments, while Saudi Arabia is France’s leading commercial partner in the Gulf, with commercial flows amounting to more than $8 billion.
Significantly, more than 80 French companies, some of which are global leaders in their fields, have an active presence in the Kingdom and employ more than 27,000 people, with a Saudization rate of 36 percent.
French companies are involved in many strategic projects throughout the Kingdom, serving the Saudi ambition to develop a world-class railway and urban transportation infrastructure, energy network, tourism industry, financial services, telecommunications and health care.
French companies are also engaged in solar and nuclear projects that will help the Kingdom diversify its energy mix.
So far as the Saudi business involvement in France is concerned, the total investment caps are at less than $1 billion, and are mostly directed toward real estate.
With the two sides sharing very cordial relations, the new governments in France and Saudi Arabia will pave the way for new opportunities over the years.
Saudi Arabia, France enjoying ever-growing strategic partnership
Saudi Arabia, France enjoying ever-growing strategic partnership
- France is the third-biggest investor in Saudi Arabia
- The “Roads of Arabia” exhibition, highlighting Saudi archaeological masterpieces and cultural heritage.
Saudi crown prince receives call from Ukraine’s Zelensky
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
During the call, the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Ukrainian-Russian crisis and efforts made to resolve it.
They also reviewed Saudi-Ukrainian relations and discussed issues of common interest. Regional and international developments were also discussed.
Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 features first display of Holy Kaaba’s Kiswah outside Makkah
- Exhibition will highlight Saudi Arabia’s key role in serving Islam and Muslims
- Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba is “considered the highest form of creative production in Islamic arts”
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 will feature, from Jan. 25 to May 25, the first public display outside Makkah of the whole Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba.
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation is hosting the unprecedented event at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, titled “And All That Is In Between.”
Visitors can admire the intricate weaving and embroidery of the Kiswah, the cloth that adorns the Holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Makkah, featuring silk, gold and silver threads.
Since 1927, the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa has been producing decorative embroidered clothes for the Holy Kaaba, which is replaced annually.
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation said that the Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba, with its distinctive inscriptions and ornamentations, is “considered the highest form of creative production in Islamic arts” and holds significance in the lives of Muslims worldwide.
The exhibition will highlight Saudi Arabia’s key role in serving Islam and Muslims over the decades and showcase the exceptional skills and craftsmanship of the Kiswah Factory of the Holy Kaaba.
Alongside the Kiswah display, the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 will exhibit a collection of historical Islamic artifacts and contemporary artworks. The organizers aim to surpass the 600,000 visitors who attended the 2023 event.
The event also aims to enhance pilgrims’ religious and cultural experiences while preserving the Kingdom’s Islamic heritage as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Deal to enhance heritage conservation in AlUla, China
- Agreement unites expertise in cultural preservation and tourism growth
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla and Dunhuang Academy have signed a strategic partnership to enhance cultural, tourism and heritage collaborations between Saudi Arabia and China.
This partnership marks a key milestone in Saudi Arabia-China relations, combining the academy’s 80 years of expertise in heritage research and cultural conservation with the commission’s dedication to preserving AlUla’s cultural heritage.
The academy manages the Magao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 735 Buddhist caves in Gansu province, famous for their murals and sculptures that reflect Silk Road cultural influences.
The agreement unites the organizations as guardians of unique heritage, history and traditions, according to a recent press release.
The academy’s successful preservation of the Magao Grottoes has earned praise from UNESCO, the World Bank, and the Chinese government.
Both entities will collaborate on a conservation program for historic sites and artifacts in AlUla and western China. They will also organize academic exhibitions and exchange programs for staff and scholars.
Silvia Barbone, vice president of strategic partnerships at the commission, said that China and Saudi Arabia share a rich legacy that has connected people and places across vast distances and centuries.
“Today, our work in global heritage is strengthened by successful collaborations with leading institutions and destinations.”
Barbone added that the academy joins the commission in “our goal to establish northwest Arabia as a hub for research, exploration, and discovery in culture, heritage, tourism, and more, as we drive the regeneration of AlUla.”
The partnership follows the Saudi Travel Expo, organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority, where AlUla was prominently featured. The event, held in Beijing’s Tian Tan Garden in October 2024, highlighted AlUla’s natural and cultural heritage.
Su Bomin, director of Dunhuang Academy, said this collaboration was a significant step in “bridging our cultural histories and advancing heritage conservation efforts.
“By sharing our expertise and resources, we aim to foster cultural exchange, deepen mutual understanding, and create innovative programs that will benefit communities in both China and Saudi Arabia.”
In January 2024, the “AlUla, Wonder of Arabia” exhibition, featuring artifacts from the commission’s archaeological collection on public display for the first time, was hosted at Beijing’s Forbidden City UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Attracting over 220,000 visitors, the exhibition followed the signing of a partnership agreement between the commission and the Cultural Heritage Administration of China’s Henan province.
Saudi FM discusses Middle East issues with Spanish, British counterparts, UNRWA chief
- Prince Faisal meets Philippe Lazzarini in Riyadh
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received separate phone calls from Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday.
He discussed recent developments in the Middle East with his Spanish and British counterparts, and efforts to address them.
The Saudi foreign minister also met the chief of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Philippe Lazzarini, in Riyadh. They discussed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to cooperate with UNRWA on projects benefiting the Palestinian people.
Saudi leadership offers condolences to Chinese president for earthquake victims
- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured
RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their condolences in separate messages to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the victims of the earthquake that hit Dingri County in the Xizang Region of southwest China.
The Saudi leadership extended heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathy to the Chinese president and the families of those who died in the natural disaster, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
On Tuesday, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured.
