Visit to boost strategic partnership

Riyadh: French ambassador Bertrand Besancenot has said that President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Riyadh aims, among other things, to further enhance the existing strategic partnership between the two countries that covers all political, economic and military fields.

"The Saudi-French summit is to activate a number of agreements and contracts concluded with the Saudi side," the envoy told Gulf News.

He said that an agreement for selling advanced French military equipment is expected to be signed during Sarkozy's visit, but he declined to elaborate.

He pointed out that Paris is working to increase its investments in Saudi Arabia through involvement in a number of projects in railways, electricity and water.

He said that the visit will also encourage Saudi students to go to French universities and the teaching of French language in Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Arabia sends more than 500 students annually to study at French universities," he said.