{"id":4968,"date":"2015-06-25T10:38:28","date_gmt":"2015-06-25T09:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/?p=4968"},"modified":"2015-06-25T10:38:28","modified_gmt":"2015-06-25T09:38:28","slug":"saudi-france-sign-multibillion-dollar-deals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/index.php\/saudi-france-sign-multibillion-dollar-deals\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi-France sign multibillion-dollar deals"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SaudiFrance\"<\/a>Saudi Arabia signed agreements worth billions of dollars on Wednesday to buy helicopters, Airbus jets and two possible nuclear reactors from France.
\nThe signing in Paris comes as Saudi Arabia is seeking to bolster its military capabilities while it is leading a coalition against extremists in neighboring Yemen.
\nA high-level delegation led by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with top French officials, including President Francois Hollande, on Wednesday.
\nParis and Riyadh agreed to press ahead with feasibility studies to build two flagship Areva-designed EPR nuclear reactors as well as nuclear waste and safety training as the two allies firm up business ties.
\nThe countries set up a joint committee in May to finalize some 20 projects across sectors ranging from defense to transport infrastructure and civil aviation over the coming months worth billions of euros.
\nSaudi and French officials signed accords at the presidential Elysee Palace for 23 helicopters for the Interior Ministry and 50 Airbus jets.
\nFrench Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Wednesday that the two have agreed to sell French patrol boats \u201cto enhance the capability of the Saudi Coast Guard, which is today facing growing threats.\u201d
\nForeign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said talks were ongoing on price for a contract for French naval patrol boats built by DCNS, partly owned by Thales. The two sides are aiming to finalize the majority of deals under discussion in October.
\n\u201cOur ties are excellent, historic and strategic,\u201d Al-Jubeir said. \u201cWe are trying to take them even higher.\u201d
\nAl-Jubeir also urged more help from the region to help Yemen reconstruct.
\n\u201cGulf countries should send their help to Yemen, so that our (Yemeni) brothers could reconstruct their country and find a political solution and sign a (peace) agreement,\u201d he told reporters.
\n\u201cI hope that Houthis will return to senses and understand that they might have a role in Yemen, but that it should be done in a peaceful manner.\u201d<\/p>\n

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