President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and French President Emmanuel Macron have reaffirmed Nigeria and France’s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation during a private dinner in Paris.

Macron hosted Tinubu at the Élysée Palace on Thursday night as both leaders renewed high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga disclosed the meeting in a post on his verified X handle 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,” Onanuga said.

The meeting took place as Tinubu continued 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 leave as a working vacation and said Tinubu was expected to return to Nigeria at the end of the period.

The latest meeting adds to continued high-level engagements between Tinubu and Macron as Nigeria and France pursue cooperation in trade, investment, security, energy, innovation, culture and the creative economy.

President Tinubu had previously met Macron during his June 2023 visit to Paris for the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact.

The latest engagement further highlights ongoing diplomatic contacts between Abuja and Paris as both countries seek to deepen their strategic partnership.