French President Emmanuel Macron met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The two sides signed a number of strategic agreements designed to boost economic cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of energy and public transportation.

France and Iraq signed a pact aimed at strengthening bilateral relations in the areas of anti-corruption, security, renewable energy and culture, the Elysée Palace said in a statement.

Macron and Shia al-Sudani reaffirmed their commitment to complete major grid infrastructure projects based on French know-how. In this regard, they have committed to provide Iraq with the expertise of French companies, the Elysée Palace added.

Regarding alternative energy sources, they have shown their commitment to the implementation of the TotalEnergies energy project based on solar energy and gas investments, he noted.

Reuters previously reported that Qatar is in talks to buy a stake in French oil company TotalEnergies' $27 billion cluster of energy projects in Iraq, as Baghdad hopes to thwart attempts by Western energy companies to leave the country.

When TotalEnergies and Baghdad signed an agreement in 2021 to build four giant solar, gas, power and water projects in southern Iraq over 25 years, hopes of reversing the companies' exodus rose. Exxon Mobil, Shell and BP have sought to wind down their operations in Iraq in recent years.