A French presidential official stated that France has committed to supporting Saudi Arabia's bid to host Expo 2030, but this support is limited to the first round of voting, thus leaving the door open for potential backing of Italy's candidacy. The host country for the world exhibition is expected to be chosen in November 2023 through a vote by the 179 countries in the Bureau International des Expositions. The voting will be repeated if no country secures a majority in the initial ballot.
Rome has launched its candidacy campaign to boost its economy following the success of Milan in Expo 2015, but it faces fierce competition from Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, and Busan in South Korea. Italian authorities have expressed disappointment over the Élysée's decision to support Riyadh and are trying to counter Saudi Arabia's bid by highlighting the importance of human rights and working conditions.
The French official remarked, "We made this decision last year, also at Saudi Arabia's request. To clarify, this was the only request we received. Hence, we were able to secure commitments from Saudi Arabia regarding issues that are important to us."
He added, "Now, the question revolves around how many rounds will be necessary. We announced support that will apply only during the first round, as is customary in international organizations. After that, we will see."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday in Paris after presenting Italy's proposal to host Expo 2030 to the Bureau International des Expositions. This was the first time Macron met with Prime Minister Meloni since she took office last year. The two governments had exchanged criticisms earlier this year over immigration issues.
The French official noted, "This meeting shows that we and Italy share the same European ambitions," adding that the meeting contributed to a rapprochement between the two European countries.
