France keen on strengthening bilateral relations with Kuwait

France is keen on maintaining the "strong and excellent" relations with the State of Kuwait as it represents a stabilizing factor in the Middle East, Head of the France-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Parliamentary Friendship Group, Senator Philippe Marini, said on Sunday.Marini made this statement to KUNA after the conclusion of the official visit of the National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim to Paris on Friday where he discussed with senior legislators from the French Parliament and Senate the prospects of strengthening the bilateral ties."Under the difficult regional situations in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Iraq, Kuwait represents a major stabilizing factor in the region," Marini added, noting that Kuwait is one of the most leading countries in democracy in the Arab Gulf region.He praised the freedom of expression and opinion in Kuwait as they constitute "important factors" for any country looking to maintain national cohesion.Marini stressed the strong bilateral ties between the two countries, which he described as "historic and deep-rooted" in various aspects, noting that France's commitment to restore Kuwait's territories during the Iraqi invasion in 1990 was a "natural act." He also praised the results of the talks of the Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation with the French National Assembly and French Senate and their role in the development of a strong partnership in the future between the two countries."The Parliament Speaker is to play a significant role in the balance of Kuwaiti institutions due to the role assigned to the Parliament by the Kuwaiti constitution," he noted, stressing the importance of Al-Ghanim's visit that he made in order to bolster bilateral ties.Marini, also Chairman of the Finance Committee of the French Senate, said that his country is keen on developing "promising" economic relations with Kuwait as an extension of the bilateral relations in the fields of technology and health. Marini said he will participate in the dynamic activation of mutual parliamentary visits by a proposal he will present to the members of the friendship group at the Senate for a visit to Kuwait in the coming months.The Kuwaiti delegation, headed by the Paliament Speaker Al-Ghanim, held a series of fruitful meetings with the French President of the National Assmbely Claude Bartolone, President of the French Senate Jean-Pierre Bel and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries.