Jeddah, SPA :
 The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet s session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon.
At the outset of the session, the King praised Allah Almighty that pilgrims performed their Hajj rituals easily, safely and in security, saying, We praise and thank Allah Almighty for honoring this country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the service of the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites. Since the foundation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by late King Abdulaziz Al Saud, its Kings have been exploiting human and material potentials to serve the guests of Allah from pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors. Every year since that date, the Kingdom continues the works of continuing development according to an integrated system aiming to further facilitation for pilgrims and their safety. The Kingdom will continue in that way emanating from the honor of the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors which is a source of pride for the Kingdom and its citizens .
The King added, What has been expressed by pilgrims and officials from different countries of their appreciation and gratitude for the success of this year s Hajj season which showed an increase in the number of pilgrims by 26%, and what has been witnessed by pilgrims of large facilities and comprehensive services in the areas of security, health and organization, and free of diseases and epidemics, embody the blessed efforts exerted by princes, ministers, the chairman and members of the Supreme Hajj Committee, the governors of regions, all officials and personnel of civilian, military and national sectors participated in Hajj works. We thank and appreciate all for their efforts, dedication and sincerity in the service of pilgrims, praying to Allah Almighty to bless their efforts, accept pilgrims Hajj rituals, and perpetuate the homeland s blessings. 
Then, the King briefed the Cabinet on the phone call made to President Donald Trump of the United States of America, and the outcomes of his meetings with Vice Premier of the State Council of the People s Republic of China Zhang Gaoli; Foreign Minister of Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov; and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.
In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, Minister of Culture and Information, explained that the Cabinet paid tribute to the signing of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Zhang Gaoli on the minutes of the second session of the Joint High Level Committee of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China, stressing that the signing of memorandums of understanding and bilateral cooperation projects between the two countries during the visit of the Vice-Premier of the People's Republic of China to the Kingdom reflects the level of relationship and important role of the Saudi-Chinese high-level joint committee headed by the Crown Prince and Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China in developing and enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The Cabinet welcomed the resolutions and recommendations issued by the First Islamic Summit on Science, Technology, Innovation and Modernization in the Islamic World, held in the Kazakh capital Astana, stressing the important contents of the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques who confirmed the need to develop knowledge more than ever before in the light of the great challenges facing it and that the achievement of this renaissance is based on fundamental pillars of developing education and encouraging scientific and technical research and building an integrated system in order to embrace innovations and their ideas in addition to build bridges of cooperation and integration within a single country and between the states and through international organizations.
The Cabinet referred to a number of reports on the latest developments, welcoming, in this context, the recommendations of the International Conference organized by the Muslim World League entitled "Civilizational Interaction between the United States of America and the Islamic World" which concluded in New York City.
The Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom's condemnation to the attacks, explosions and terrorist attacks on a number of sisterly and friendly countries during the past few days, which resulted in many deaths and injuries, stressing the Kingdom's firm stances condemning terrorism regardless of its source and its standing alongside fraternal and friendly countries against terrorism and extremism and offered condolences of the Kingdom to the governments and peoples of those countries and wishing urgent recovery for those wounded.
The Minister noted that the Cabinet commended decision taken by the Council of the League of Arab States, at the end of its 148th session, to form an open ministerial group membership, in collaboration with the Secretary General of the League, aiming at urgent action to confront Israeli plots, in the African continent and what has come in the decision in regard to Palestinian cause, as the Cabinet welcomed decisions issued by the session on various events and developments, in the Arab countries.
The Cabinet has condemned terrorist massacres, brutal attacks and genocide committed against the Rohingya Muslims, in Burma, systematic destruction of many villages and homes, which represent one of the worst forms of brutal and bloody terrorism against a Muslim minority.
The Cabinet renewed calls made by the Kingdom on international community to take urgent action to stop the violent acts and to give the Muslim minority, in Myanmar, their rights without discrimination or racial classification, pointing out that the Kingdom was among countries that supported the Rohingya, in international forums, the United Nations Human Rights Council and donated to them $ 50 million, through health and educational rehabilitation programs, as well as hosting them on its territory since 1948.
In the local affairs, the Cabinet appreciated announcement of the Public Investment Fund to launch the Future Investment Initiative, which will be held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, during the period from 24-26 October 2017. stressing that the initiative which is seen as the first of its kind in the world, and its inaugural session will be held under the chairmanship Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund Board, marks a quantum leap in the field of global investment, an unprecedented opportunity for many leaders and influential people over the world to achieve a better vision for the future of international investment and will be the platform to launch the new fund strategy.
The Cabinet congratulated male and female students of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all stages of education in all regions of the Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the start of the new academic year, asking Allah Almighty to help them in their education to achieve what they aim and hope to in the future, and to help teachers carrying out this mission.
Then, Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad said that the Cabinet reviewed the topics on the agenda of its meeting. The Council decided the following:
First: the Cabinet authorized the Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Russian side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation in the field of mineral resources.
Second: the Cabinet authorized the Minister of Education - or his deputy - to discuss and sign with the Afghan side a draft memorandum of scientific cooperation between the Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Education of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Third: the Cabinet approved two memoranda of scientific and educational cooperation between the Ministry of Education of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Education of Malaysia.
Fourth: The Cabinet approved to mandate the Minister of Transport, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Transport Authority - or his deputy - to discuss with the Russian side a draft cooperation agreement between the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation, in the field of maritime transport, and to submit finally singed version to complete the formal procedures.
Fifth: The Cabinet approved authorization of the Minister of Culture and Information and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Press Agency - or his deputy - to discuss with the Ukrainian side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation and exchange of news between the Saudi Press Agency and the Ukrainian National News Agency, and to submit finally signed version to complete the formal procedures.
Sixth: The Cabinet decided to approve a memorandum of cooperation between King Abdulaziz University, in Jeddah, with the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Portugal, in the field of records and archives, signed in Lisbon on 14th October, corresponding to 7/1437 AH. A royal decree has been prepared, in this regard.
Seventh: The Cabinet decided to deposit amounts allocated to private sector partnership initiatives in the budget of the Ministry of Housing - the initiative of partnering with private developers on the Ministry's lands, the initiative to stimulate the development of residential products on land subject to white land charges, the initiative to stimulate the development of residential products on private land and the Ministerial Land Development Initiative - for the current fiscal year and next coming years, in the company account. The national housing payments to be agreed upon between the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Finance, under the supervision of the supervisory committee composed under the Royal Decree No. 13411 and dated on 19/3/1438 AH.
Eighth: The Cabinet decided to include barley within the system of feed inputs according to the mechanism stipulated in the National Plan for the Promotion, Good Use and Support of Concentrated Feed Industry approved by the Cabinet Resolution No. (69) dated 9/9 / 1429 AH. The estimate of the value of feed inputs should be determined according to the Ministerial Supply Committee and according to feed input prices in the international market, to ensure feed availability.
Ninth: The Cabinet decided to approve the unified water strategy and its executive plan for Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States (2015-2035), provided that they serve as a guide for a period of three years and are then re-evaluated.
Tenth: The Cabinet decided the following:
1- Approving amendments to the income tax system issued by Royal Decree No. (M / 1) dated 15/1 / 1425 AH.
2. The above-mentioned amendments shall take effect from the beginning of the next financial year, except for those provisions for which another effective date has been set by Royal Orders No. 135 and A / 136 of 28/6/1438. A royal decree has been prepare, in this regard.
Eleventh: the Cabinet approved a number of promotions and an appointment as follow:
1- Eng. Ibrahim bin Saleh bin Ali Al-Raqibah is promoted to the post of Director General of Water in the Eastern Region (rank 15) at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
2- Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Junaidel is promoted to the post of Administrative Adviser (rank 15) at the Ministry of Finance.
3- Saad bin Mohammed bin Abdullatif Al-Abdalatif is appointed to the post of Undersecretary of Board for Control (rank 15) at the Control and Investigation Board.
4 - Abdulrahman bin Abdulrahim bin Abdulrahman Shaiban is promoted to the post of Director General of the Ministry's branch in Riyadh(rank 15) at the Ministry of Civil Service.
5- Abdulkarim bin Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Hemaili is promoted to the post of Civil Service Adviser (rank 14) at the Ministry of Civil Service.
6- Yahya bin Ali bin Yahya Al Khorim is promoted to the post of Director General of Companies (rank 14) at the Ministry of Commerce and Investment.
7- Saad bin Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Dhafian is promoted to the post of Advisor for Land Affairs(rank 14) at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
8- Sulaiman bin Abdulrahman bin Hammad Al-Beheiry is promoted to the post of Director General of the General Department for Investment Development (rank 14) at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.
9- The following are promoted to the position of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
- Salman bin Hazza bin Mohammed Al-Mutairi.
- Mohammed bin Ibrahim bin Amer Al-Otaibi.
- Mazen bin Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Shafi.
- Saad bin Nasser bin Abdullah Abu Haimed.
- Sami bin Saad bin Ibrahim Al-Faqih.
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of other general items, on its agenda, fully informed and took relevant instructions.