Kathmandu— France and Saudi Arabia have agreed to construct a seven-billion-dollar ($6 billion euro) theme park outside Paris, marking one of several significant deals signed during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the Élysée Palace on Monday. The project, expected to create approximately 22,000 jobs, is being spearheaded by Qiddiya, an investment arm of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, and encompasses agreements spanning energy, defense, artificial intelligence, and tourism. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the park as a potential “new global destination,” while Prince Mohammed seeks to strengthen economic and security ties between their nations.

Theme Park Details Emerge

The planned amusement park will feature three distinct theme parks near Cergy-Pontoise, located roughly 30 kilometers northwest of Paris. Notably, one section is slated to be dedicated to manga, inspired by a shared interest between Macron and Prince Mohammed in the popular Japanese art form – specifically, “Dragon Ball Z,” as revealed by an advisor to the French president. The project aims to rival Disneyland Paris in scale and attract international visitors.

Broader Economic Agreements Signed

Beyond the theme park, a series of other agreements were formalized during Prince Mohammed’s visit. These include a $434 million contract with CMA CGM to develop Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Islamic Port on the Red Sea, and a $580 million deal with Alstom to supply metro carriages for Riyadh’s metro system. Macron emphasized that these investments represent a victory for his “Choose France” initiative, designed to attract foreign capital and stimulate job creation.

Defense and Regional Security Cooperation

A letter of intent was also signed reinforcing cooperation on defense matters, including cybersecurity expertise exchange, AI training, and military training. Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith reported that Saudi Arabia represents a significant market for French defense manufacturers, prompting France to maintain strong ties with the kingdom. Macron and Prince Mohammed jointly addressed several regional conflicts in a statement, calling for a negotiated resolution between the United States and Iran, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza.

Joint Statement on Regional Issues

The two leaders welcomed the US-brokered agreement regarding Hamas’s disarmament while urging a lasting cessation of hostilities in Israel's war on Gaza. They reaffirmed their support for Palestinian statehood and called for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory, also condemning attacks by Yemen’s Houthis targeting Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping. Support was voiced for stability and recovery efforts in Syria.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit marks his third official trip to France and signals Saudi Arabia's pursuit of diversified security partnerships beyond its traditional alliances. The agreements reached are expected to foster closer economic and strategic ties between the two nations.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.