French President Emmanuel Macron Photo: AFP

France and Saudi Arabia have committed to "fully engage" to resolve a diplomatic row between the Gulf kingdom and Lebanon, visiting French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday. 

His announcement came after meeting in the Red Sea city of Jeddah with Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with whom Macron said he had a "no taboos" discussion about human rights.

Macron said that he and Prince Mohammed held a joint telephone conversation with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in an effort to resolve the crisis that was sparked in October between Beirut and several Gulf states - in particular Saudi Arabia, which had blocked imports.

Saudi Arabia and France "want to fully engage" in reestablishing relations between Riyadh and Beirut, the French president told reporters before his departure. 

"With Saudi Arabia, we have made commitments towards Lebanon: to work together, to support reforms, to enable the country to emerge from the crisis and preserve its sovereignty," Macron said on Twitter.

Mikati said later that the phone call was "an important step toward resuming historical brotherly relations" with Riyadh.

The Gulf dispute has exacerbated an already dire situation in Lebanon, which is in the grip of a deep economic and financial crisis.

Macron's efforts likely received a boost by the resignation of Lebanese information minister Georges Kordahi, whose remarks on the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen sparked the row.

The French president has spearheaded international efforts to help Lebanon out of its economic downturn, as the country's fragile government has been struggling to secure international aid, particularly from wealthy Arab powers.

Lebanon's ties with Gulf states have also grown increasingly strained in recent years due to the growing influence of Lebanese movement Hezbollah.

Macron and Prince Mohammed also discussed bilateral relations, areas of partnership and prospects for cooperation, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

AFP