French minister: Energy is at the heart of Saudi – French bilateral ties

French minister: Energy is at the heart of Saudi – French bilateral ties

RIYADH — French Energy Transition Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher said that energy is at the heart of the bilateral relationship between France and Saudi Arabia. In an interview with Okaz/Saudi Gazette, she said that French companies are committed to the energy transition, and as such they are participating in Saudi Arabia's major decarbonization and economic diversification projects being implemented as part of the Saudi Vision 2030. The French minister arrived in the Kingdom in response to an invitation from Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. Replying to a question about taking advantage of the excellent bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and France for the benefit of enhanced cooperation in the energy sector, Pannier-Runacher drew attention to the MoU signed between the two countries in February this year. “My colleague and Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna signed a MoU on energy with Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman,” she said. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Jeddah in December 2021, and the Saudi Crown Prince visited Paris two times. During his last visit, the Crown Prince took part in the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, held on June 22-23, 2023 aimed at proposing a