Riyadh, SPA:
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session held at Al-Yamamah Palace here yesterday.
At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the results of his receptions and discussions with President Alpha Condé of the Republic of Guinea Conakry; President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea; and Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait, citing ways of strengthening and supporting bilateral relations in all fields and discussing latest developments in the region.
The Cabinet reviewed a number of issues and developments at the regional and international levels, pointing to what the Kingdom presented before the 56th Munich Security Conference regarding its positions towards the most prominent files in the region and the world. These files included strategic relations with the United States of America and Iranian affairs as Iran is behind the instability in the region and practicing reckless conduct that threatens the regional and international economy, and the situation in Yemen and the Kingdom's permanent support for a political solution, in addition to highlighting the Kingdom's ambitious agenda during its presidency of the 2020 G20 summit and achieving its vision and goals.
The Minister of Media, Turki bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah, pointed out in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency after the session that the Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's stressing, during the 58th meeting of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations Commission for Social Development meeting in New York, that it will work in partnership with the United Nations and the international community to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2030 for a prosperous present and bright future for generations, reviewing the Kingdom's providing of solutions in housing programs, education and healthcare sector, developing their e-solutions, and supporting youths programs and their contributions to development.
The Cabinet reviewed the preparations made by the Kingdom's relevant authorities to host the Summit of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East next April, after signing an agreement with the Forum to establish a branch of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution of the World Economic Forum in the Kingdom, which is the fifth in the world. This enhances the leadership's trends in adopting technology and its global best practices within the framework of efforts to develop effective solutions to the challenges of vital sectors in the Kingdom.
The Minister of Media stated that the Cabinet affirmed the Kingdom's support for the Yemeni people and continuing provision of humanitarian aid to them through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), and the Kingdom's emphasis during the high-level meeting organized by the European Commissioner in cooperation with the Swedish government in Brussels on the humanitarian situation in Yemen that provocative practices and activities being carried out by the Houthi militia hinder relief works and will lead to the suspension of humanitarian support for Yemen.
The Cabinet affirmed that the approval of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to form the first University Affairs Council in the Kingdom after the issuance of the new university system, is an extension of the leadership's support for education in the Kingdom in general and for university education in particular, and its aspirations for the University Affairs Council to achieve a qualitative shift in the universities march .
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First:
The Cabinet approved the agreement establishing the Saudi-Algerian Supreme Coordination Council, and authorized His Royal Highness Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to head the Saudi side in the Saudi-Algerian Supreme Coordination Council, and sign the aforementioned agreement.
Second:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy to negotiate with the Omani side a draft cooperation agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Sultanate of Oman on combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and chemical precursors and their smuggling, sign it, then submit the final copy to complete legal procedures.
Third:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy to negotiate with the Peruvian side a draft of memorandum of understanding in the field of civil defense and civil protection between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Peru, and sign it, then submit the final copy to complete legal procedures.
Fourth:
The Cabinet approved an agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Argentina on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.
A royal decree has been prepared.
Fifth:
The Cabinet approved the organization of Saudi Export Import Bank.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved the organization of King Salman Park Foundation, and Riyadh Sports Boulevard.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved a number of promotions and Minister Plenipotentiary as follows:
1- Ghannam bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Moadi is promoted to the post of security consultant (15th Rank) in Riyadh Region Governorate.
2- Khalid bin Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Muhareb is promoted to the post of Administrative Adviser (15th Rank) at the Bureau of Experts in the Cabinet.
3- Ahmed bin Saleh bin Muhammad Al-Sumairi is promoted to the post of Administrative Adviser (15th Rank) at the Bureau of Experts in the Cabinet.
4- Mohammed bin Saadi bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi is promoted to the post of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
5- Khalid bin Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Sulami is promoted to the post of Senior Legal Adviser (14th Rank) at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
6- Eng. Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah Al-Huwaish is promoted to the post of Agricultural Advisor (14th Rank) at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
7- Tariq bin Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman bin Muqrin is promoted to the post of Director General of the Minister of State’s Office (14th Rank) in the General Secretariat of the Cabinet.
8- Osama bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ibrahim is promoted to the post of Director General of the Minister of State’s Office (14th Rank) in the General Secretariat of the Cabinet.
The Cabinet reviewed a number of topics on its agenda including annual reports of Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Media (General Commission for Audiovisual Media) and the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority for two previous fiscal years and made appropriate recommendations in their regard.