PARIS: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel met French health officials in Paris on Friday to reaffirm and deepen healthcare cooperation between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The talks between Al-Jalajel and Catherine Vautrin and Yannick Nodder focused on building a strategic partnership with an emphasis on public health policy, healthcare system development, disease prevention and emergency response, SPA added.

Both sides praised Saudi Arabia’s ambitious health-sector reforms under Vision 2030, notably in digital health, biotechnology and innovation.

The ministers welcomed the near-finalization of a major agreement to formalize healthcare collaboration and witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding between Paris’s Assistance Publique–Hopitaux de Paris and the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.

These agreements aim to boost scientific research, innovation and pre-hospital emergency services.

They also committed to strengthening cooperation on global health issues, including antimicrobial resistance, and highlighted the importance of engaging with international institutions such as the World Health Organization Academy and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

During his visit, Al-Jalajel also met senior French officials, including Clara Chappaz, minister for artificial and digital intelligence, and Laurent Saint-Martin, minister for foreign trade and French diaspora.

He also attended the Saudi-French Business Council Forum, where strategic agreements were signed in digital health, oncology, emergency medicine and biotechnology, supporting Vision 2030 goals.

Both countries pledged to maintain regular dialogue and activate joint action channels to ensure the effective implementation of their health partnership.