The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, presided over the session held by the Council of Ministers today at the Peace Palace in Jeddah.
At the beginning of the session, the Cabinet was briefed on the contents of the contacts and meetings that took place with the leaders of a number of brotherly and friendly countries and senior officials in the past days, on ways to strengthen relations between the Kingdom and their countries, and to consult on developments on the regional and international arenas.
The Council followed the developments in the Republic of Sudan, and the Kingdom’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to resolve the crisis, restore security and stability to this brotherly country, and mitigate the effects of the conditions the Sudanese people are currently going through by providing relief and medical aid worth ($100 million) and organizing a popular campaign that is an extension of its pioneering role. in this field worldwide.
In his statement to the Saudi Press Agency after the session, His Excellency the Minister of Information, Salman bin Youssef Al-Dosari, stated that the Cabinet commended the Kingdom’s success in evacuating its citizens and nationals of a number of countries stranded in Sudan and transferring them to the Kingdom with efficiency and competence, based on its duty towards its citizens. in all countries of the world, and in continuation of its good offices by standing with brothers and friends.
The Council welcomed the decision of the League of Arab States Council at the ministerial level held in Cairo to resume the participation of delegations of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic in the meetings of the Council of the League and all its affiliated organizations and agencies, stressing the Kingdom’s keenness to support all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity of Syria. And its security, stability and Arab affiliation, and achieve good and development for its brotherly people.
The Council of Ministers stressed what the Kingdom affirmed during its participation in the Forum of Major Economies on Energy and Climate, of its commitment to work with international and regional partners to find the necessary solutions in the field of climate and its tracks. Including developing carbon management technologies, reducing carbon in the energy sector, reducing emissions of other gases, and reducing deforestation.
In domestic affairs, the Council blessed what was announced by His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God protect him – about launching four special economic zones in Riyadh, Jazan, Ras al-Khair and King Abdullah Economic City, aiming to develop and diversify the economy and improve the investment environment. This will enhance the Kingdom’s position as a leading global investment destination.
His Excellency indicated that the Council of Ministers reviewed the performance indicators of the state’s general budget during the first quarter of the year (2023), including total revenues and expenditures and the state of public debt, and what it reflected in the strength of the Kingdom’s financial position, the continuation of economic reforms, and the achievement of the goals of Vision 2030 programs.
The Council directed, with thanks to God Almighty, for overcoming the Corona pandemic and the end of its emergency health situation, and for his success for this country to work with the highest levels of responsibility, seriousness and innovation in confronting it, translating its usual concern for human safety, and for the Kingdom to become a global model in dealing with health pandemics.
The Council of Ministers reviewed the topics on its agenda, including topics that the Shura Council participated in studying. It also reviewed the conclusions of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Council of Ministers, and the Council of Experts in the Council of Ministers.
The council concluded the following:
First: Authorizing His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs – or his representative – to discuss with the Chinese side a draft protocol supplementing the agreement regarding the formation of the high-level joint committee between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the People’s Republic of China.
Second: Authorizing His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs – or his representative – to discuss with the Guyanese side a draft memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Guyana.
Third: Authorizing His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs – or his representative – to discuss with the French side a draft memorandum of understanding regarding the formation of the Strategic Partnership Council between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the French Republic.
Fourth: Approval of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Religious Affairs Committee of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Fifth: Authorizing His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development – or his representative – to discuss with the Turkish side a draft memorandum of understanding between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Turkey for cooperation in the field of social services.
Sixth: Approval of a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy / Agency for Tourism and Creative Economy in the Republic of Indonesia.
Seventh: Approval of an administrative agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Development Association regarding the multi-donor trust fund for the digital development partnership.
Eighth: Authorizing His Royal Highness, Minister of Energy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy – or his representative – to discuss with the Uzbek side a draft framework agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Ninth: Authorizing His Excellency the Minister of Education, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation – or his representative – to discuss with the Pakistani side a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of technical and vocational training between the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Authority for Technical and Vocational Training in the Republic of Islamic Pakistan.
Tenth: Approval of a memorandum of understanding between the Control and Anti-Corruption Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in the Federal Republic of Somalia in the field of preventing and combating corruption.
Eleventh: Approval of a memorandum of understanding between the Human Rights Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the National Center for Human Rights in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Twelfth: Approving the national strategy for the sustainability of the Red Sea, and authorizing His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs – or his representative – to discuss within the framework of the Council of Arab and African Countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden about the draft regional strategy for the sustainability of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Thirteenth: Approving the establishment of a program under the name “generosity program” to support the community by adopting sustainable development projects.
Fourteenth: Approving – in principle – the establishment of an integrated infrastructure for radio monitoring of satellites to cover the territory of the Kingdom.
Fifteenth: Approval of promotions to the ranks (fifteenth) and (fourteenth) as follows:
Saad bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Babtain is promoted to the position of (Director General) at the (fifteenth rank) at the Ministry of National Guard.
Saud bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Ababtain is promoted to the position of (General Director) at the (fifteenth) rank at the Ministry of Justice.
Promotion of Adel bin Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al-Khayal to the position of (General Manager) at the (fourteenth) rank at the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing.
The Council of Ministers also reviewed a number of general topics on its agenda, including annual reports of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Prince Sultan Center for Defense Studies and Research, and the Public Prosecution Office related to administrative and financial aspects, and the Council has taken the necessary measures regarding these issues.
