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 Cabinet was briefed on a report on the meetings and discussions of the Kingdom’s delegation with senior officials and economic decision makers at the World Economic Forum in Davos, on achieving sustainable development goals that contribute to the stability of global economy and the welfare of societies and finding solutions to global challenges. The report also reviewed the Kingdom's developing of strategic relations with the Forum, especially as it chairs the 2020 G20 and that the group’s agenda are in line with Kingdom's. The report reviewed the Kingdom’s leading and influential role in the stability of global energy markets, highlighting achieved reforms within the Kingdom's Vision 2030 programs and its strategic priorities.
The Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom's follow-up on developments of the oil market resulting from negative expectations of the potential impact of Coronavirus outbreak on the Chinese and global economy, including oil market balances, and its confidence in the Chinese government and the international community to end this virus, confirming that the Kingdom and OPEC + countries possess the capabilities and flexibility to respond to any changes, by taking necessary measures to support the stability of oil markets.
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 welcomed the cooperation announced by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) through its partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to hold the Global FDI Summit in October, in Riyadh, which will be held for the first time in the Middle East with 250 participants from experts and international decision makers. The Summit will be held within the framework of the Kingdom's plans and endeavors to attract foreign investments with its great successes over two consecutive years that showed confidence in the Saudi economy, resulting in more than 1130 foreign companies in 2019 entering the Saudi market, marking an increase of 45% over the year 2018.
The Cabinet hailed the efforts exerted by the Kingdom’s government under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince to eradicate financial and administrative corruption and consolidate the principles of transparency, justice and economic reform, indicating, in this context, the progress made by the Kingdom in the ranking of Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for the year 2019 and its progress among the G20 economies.
The Minister of Media stated that the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on the latest developments at regional and international arenas, affirming the Kingdom's stance on various conflicts in the region. The Cabinet called for a restraint, calm and dialogue, rejecting foreign interferences in the Libyan issue, violations of the Security Council's resolutions and a military escalation. The Cabinet affirmed the Kingdom's support for the Libyan people and its respect of their will, stressing that the Kingdom stands at an equal distance from all Libyan parties.
The Cabinet followed the Kingdom's affirmation before the European Parliament about its relations with the European Union, its policy in addressing foreign challenges, its firm stance against interference in its internal affairs and its keenness of the region's stability in addition to the growth and prosperity it achieved domestically in various fields and working towards the success of the ambitious programs of the Kingdom Vision 2030 in order to achieve national achievements and reforms.
On domestic affairs, the Cabinet affirmed that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' kind patronage of the closing ceremony of 4th King Abdulaziz Camel Festival and awarding the prizes reflected his appreciation for the exerted efforts of taking care of camels and encouraging their owners through organizing this annual festival which deals with this national heritage in the Kingdom's history.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Maldivian side a draft security cooperation agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Maldives.
Second:
The Cabinet approved a protocol annex between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the People's Republic of China regarding the agreement to form a high-level joint committee.
A royal decree has been prepared in this regard.
Third:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Justice or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Ukrainian side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Ukraine.
Fourth:
The Cabinet authorized the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Council of Europe a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare of the Council of Europe in the field of exchanging pharmaceutical information.
Fifth:
The Cabinet approved a guiding model for a cooperation agreement between the Presidency of State Security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its counterparts in other countries in the field of combating terrorism crimes and its financing. The Cabinet also authorized the Head of Presidency of State Security or his representative to discuss and sign a draft cooperation agreement between the Presidency of the State Security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its counterparts in other countries in the field of combating terrorism crimes and its financing.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved that a citizen is not allowed to wear a foreign medal on the national occasions without the approval of the Prime Minister.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved to appoint Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ali, Dr. Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Turki and Eng. Omar bin Saleh Bazuhair, as members of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center.
Eighth:
The Cabinet approved to appoint Dr. Mohammed bin Ayed Al-Marzouqi, as a member from the private sector in the Board of Directors of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation.
Ninth:
The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at 14th and 15th ranks and Minister Plenipotentiary as follows:
1- Fahd bin Saud bin Mazyad Al-Otaibi is promoted to a post of Administrative Advisor (15th rank) at the Ministry of Health.
2- Ahmed bin Saeed bin Mohammed Abu Alait is promoted to a post of Petroleum Advisor (14th rank) at the Ministry of Energy.
3- Mohammed bin Sulaiman bin Mohammed Al-Asiri is promoted to a post of Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4- Eng. Muslet bin Faleh bin Nawar Al-Otaibi is promoted to a post of Rural Development Advisor (14th rank) at Riyadh Municipality.
5- Fahad bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Rajeh is promoted to a post of Director General of the National Center for Social Studies and Research (14th rank) at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
6- Ali bin Mohammed bin Ali Al-Qarni is promoted to a post of Financial Advisor (14th rank) at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
7- Hailah bint Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Makairish is promoted to a post of Social Advisor (14th rank) at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
8- Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed Al-Sulaiman is promoted to a post of Director General of the Legal Department (14th rank) at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
9- Nasser bin Hamad bin Mansour Al-Malik is promoted to a post of Advisor for Planning and Human Resources Development (14th rank) at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
10- Ali bin Hassan bin Ali Al-Ajmi is promoted to a post of Director Manager of Minister’s Office (14th rank) at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
11- Mohammad bin Saleh bin Mohammad Al-Osaimi promoted to a post of Director General of the President’s Office (14th Rank) at General Presidency of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
The Cabinet reviewed a number of general topics on its agenda, including two annual reports of King Fahd Causeway and the General Authority of Civil Aviation for two previous fiscal years. The Cabinet made appropriate recommendations in this regard.