French President Nicolas Sarkozy has described Saudi Arabia''s role as "
essential" for regional peace, at the start of a
three-nation Gulf Arab tour partly aimed to share France''s
nuclear expertise.
"Saudi Arabia is an
essential element for peace in this turbulent region of the world," he told a press conference in the Saudi capital, after having signed a series of cooperation agreements with the government here.
Sarkozy''s visit -- part of his first trip to the region since taking office in May -- comes as US President George W. Bush tours the Middle East to rally support for his policy of isolating Iran over its nuclear programme.
"The interest of this trip is political, economic, cultural and military," Sarkozy told reporters.
Calling King Abdullah a "friend of France", he invited the Saudi monarch to visit the country "whenever he wants."
Delegations from the two countries signed four political and energy cooperation agreements, and outlined infrastructure and military contracts worth nearly 40 billion euros (59 billion dollars), a French official said.
None of the contracts are likely to be finalised by the end of Sarkozy''s trip, the French presidency said.
Sarkozy also proposed sending a team from the French Atomic Energy Commission to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks "to work on the question of civilian nuclear (energy)", the French presidency said.