French President Emmanuel Macron is welcoming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday for a two-day visit expected to cover economic cooperation, esports and the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The visit will begin on Sunday evening, with Macron joining the Saudi crown prince, widely known as MBS, at the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup in Paris.
The tournament, strongly supported by the Saudi crown prince, features leading competitors across a range of esports, from computer games to chess. This year marks the first time the event has been staged outside Saudi Arabia.
Formal talks are expected to take place on Monday, when the two countries will sign several agreements covering health, transport and energy, according to a French presidential official.
The agreements are expected to further strengthen the expanding strategic and economic relationship between Paris and Riyadh, while discussions between Macron and MBS are also set to address developments in the Middle East.
French officials declined to say whether the agreements would include plans for a proposed Dragon Ball-themed amusement park in the Val-d’Oise region outside Paris, a project reportedly backed by a Saudi investment fund.