Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH – The Council of Ministers on Tuesday took a series of decisions to strengthen relations with India, Pakistan, China, South Korea and Indonesia.

Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, is scheduled to visit Pakistan, India, China in the coming days.

The Crown Prince will pay an official visit to India on Feb 19-20, an Indian Embassy press statement said. The Cabinet authorized Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to sign an agreement to establish the Saudi-Indian Supreme Coordination Council.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of energy, industry and mineral resources or his deputy to complete deliberations and sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the Pakistani side in the fields of developing renewable energy projects, studies about investment opportunities in the petrochemical and recycling, and mineral resources sectors.

The minister was also authorized to discuss and sign MoU for investment in the Indian National Investment and Infrastructure Fund with the government of India, and another agreement for promoting and protecting mutual investments.

The Cabinet decisions also include approval for signing an MoU with China for promoting unhindered trade, making available Chinese language professors for King Saud University, and an MoU for cooperation in the intellectual property field with the concerned Chinese authorities.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of health to discuss and sign an MoU with its South Korean counterpart for cooperation in the health insurance sector, in addition to giving the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority the go ahead to discuss and sign an MoU with the concerned South Korean authority for mutual cooperation in the field of supervising financial organizations.

The Cabinet authorized Minister of Media to discuss and sign with the Indian side a MoU for cooperation in the radio and television field between the Saudi Radio and Television Corporation and Broadcasting Authority of India. The president of the board of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) was authorized to discuss and sign a MoU for cooperation in the tourism sector between SCTH and India’s Ministry of Tourism.

The Cabinet also authorized the SCTH chief to discuss and sign a MoU for cooperation in the antique and museum fields between SCTH and the Pakistani Department of Archeology and Museums.