Around 160 companies with French capital currently operate in Armenia, with the country welcoming the hike in French investments and new initiatives, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said Thursday, May 12, at the meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault.

In this context, both officials hailed the high level of bilateral ties between the countries, focusing on new opportunities for further developing and expanding economic cooperation.

The Nagorno Karabakh conflict was in the limelight of the meeting.

Nalbandian briefed his French colleague on the current situation in the conflict zone, stressing the importance of the OSCE Minsk Group’s mediation for ruling out recurrence of violence unleashed by Azerbaijan in early April.

Also, Nalbandian reaffirmed Armenia's readiness to resume the peace process together with the Minsk Group Co-chairs once adequate conditions are provided.