Almotamar.net - President Ali Abdullah Saleh met Monday at the Allesey Palace in Paris the French President Nocolas Sarkosy. The two presidents discussed means of enhancing the bilateral relations and areas of cooperation and partnership existing between Yemen ands France at various economic, political, cultural mad security levels as well as fighting terror.

The two presidents also discussed regional and international developments of common interest particularly developments of the situations in Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

They also discussed the French role in the peace process in the region. President Sarkozy welcomed president Saleh in France indicating France's keenness on strengthening its relations and cooperation with Yemen. He pointed out the continuous growth of the relations and partnership between the two countries. The French president clarified that the project of exporting natural gas by the TOTAL Company and other commercial and investment projects in Yemen enhance partnership and push forwards the march of cooperation. He affirmed France's support for development and democracy in Yemen. He also praised the impotent changes that happened in Yemen under leadership of president Saleh in political, democratic, developmental and reformative areas.

On his part president Saleh congratulated president Sarkozy on his election president of France, pointing out the Yemeni-French relations and the developed relations of cooperation and friendship. President Saleh stressed the keenness on enhancing and developing them and the many various opportunities of investment available for French companies. He also praised the French support to the process of democracy and development in Yemen at both the bilateral and European Union levels.