French President Emmanuel Macron hosted President Bola Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday night, reaffirming Nigeria-France bilateral ties.

The ‌⁠‍‍⁠⁠‌⁠‍‍⁠‍‍‌‌engagement reflected the enduring relationship between the two countries and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, according to the presidency.

Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a post on X on Friday.

“French President Emmanuel Macron received President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a private dinner Thursday night at the Élysée Palace, reflecting the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation,” Mr Onanuga said.

The engagement came as Mr Tinubu continues the second phase of his three-week annual leave in Europe, after spending the first part of the break in London.

The president arrived in Paris on Sunday for the second phase of his leave and was received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Ayodele Oke.

The presidency had earlier described the three-week leave as a working vacation, with Mr Tinubu expected to return to Nigeria at the end of the period.

The latest engagement adds to sustained high-level contacts between Messrs Tinubu and Macron.

Nigeria and France have continued to deepen cooperation across areas including trade, investment, security, energy, innovation, culture and the creative economy.

Mr Tinubu had also engaged Mr Macron during his June 2023 visit to Paris for the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact.

The latest visit further underscores the continuing diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Paris as both countries seek to strengthen their strategic partnership.

(NAN)