almotamar.net - A talks meeting was held in Sana'a Thursday between Yemen and /France co-chaired by the Yemeni minister of planning and international cooperation Abdulkarim al-Arhabi and the French minister of cooperation and development Brigitte Geraldin.

The two countries signed a framework of partnership as the French minister said that her country would increase its support for Yemen to 120 million euros during the period of 2007-2011. She said in a press conference in Sana'a on Thursday the agreement put France among the major partners of Yemen. She has also announced the opening an office for the French Development Agency in Yemen next September.

The French minister also clarified that the French support would be focused on infrastructure and agriculture, confirming
That Yemen in 2002 was incorporated among the countries which France is keen to establish relations with.

Regarding the reasons why the French assistance was increased the minister said Yemen is facing huge problems related to development and that her country desires that Yemen would benefit from the French experience and praised democracy in Yemen. She considered the signing of
Partnership document as a great job of solidarity and friendship. It is scheduled that France would help Yemen in sectors of good governance and enhancement of women role in the society, cultural diversity and upgrading languages and university and research cooperation.

Meanwhile the French minister signed an agreement with the minister of youth and sport for funding the program related to econo9mic and social integration of youth at a cost of 2 million euros and that a project related to getting new information and communication technology in higher education will be launched in 2008.
On his part the Yemeni minister of planning and international cooperation told the Yemeni news agency Saba the agreement constitutes a push of the Yemeni French relations and comes in implementation of the decisions by president Ali Abdullah Saleh and the French president Jacques Chirac in the mid of last November.