By Xinhua
Riyadh : French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived in the Saudi capital Sunday to start his first tour to the Gulf region since coming into office.
Sarkozy was greeted at the airport by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz. The two leaders will later discuss bilateral ties and regional issues, including the Iranian nuclear issue and the Middle East peace process.
Sarkozy-Abdullah talks will also cover ongoing negotiations on arms sales, including secure communication equipment, reconnaissance aircrafts, radar networks and helicopters, French defence industry sources said.
According to the French presidential office, four agreements are lined up to be signed in Riyadh. The agreements include “the institutionalisation of political consultations, dialogue on energy issues, enhancement of university training opportunities for Saudi students in France as well as the development of professional training.”
Saykozy is on a three-nation regional visit, which will also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The French president’s tour is with a common objective “to reaffirm the friendship of France with these three countries,” the presidential office said.
On Tuesday, France and the United Arab Emirates are expected to sign an intergovernmental agreement in Abu Dhabi for setting the framework for cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy.