NEOM — The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, in its virtual session lauded the success of the Saudi Green Initiative Forum and the Middle East Green Initiative Summit that Saudi Arabia hosted this week to launch a package of qualitative initiatives to protect the environment, face the challenges of climate change and reduce its negative impacts.

The two initiatives sought to establish the necessary infrastructure to reduce emissions and raise the level of regional coordination in this field in order to make a global difference in preserving the nature and humans, raising the quality of life and creating a better environment for future generations.

King Salman, Prime Minister, at the outset of the session, briefed the Cabinet on the content of the letter received from Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, the letter sent to South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the phone call with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet expressed Saudi Arabia’s appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Italian Republic to make the works of the G20 Presidency successful this year, through the collective action, and its keenness to continue the efforts exerted to make the works of the summit, scheduled to be held in the Italian capital Rome on Oct. 30-31, a success.

The Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on the latest regional and international developments, welcoming and praising the UN Security Council's press statement on Yemen, which condemned the Houthi cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia.

The Cabinet considered the statement an important boost to the exerted efforts that aim to support reaching a comprehensive political solution and make Saudi Arabia’s endeavors successful.

The Cabinet reiterated Saudi Arabia’s firm position on supporting the Palestinian case and finding a just solution to secure the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, stressing the content of Kingdom’s speech delivered before the Economic and Financial Committee of the United Nations, including obligating the Israeli occupation authorities to comply with international resolutions and laws, end the occupation and withdraw completely from the occupied Arab lands.

The Cabinet followed the developments in Sudan, stressing the importance of restraint and a de-escalation, and calling for preserving political and economic gains, and everything that aims to protect unity among all political components. The Cabinet affirmed that the Kingdom continues to support the Sudanese people and all things supporting Sudan’s security, stability, growth and prosperity.

The Cabinet also touched upon Saudi Arabia’s speech during its participation in Libya Stabilization Conference, held in Tripoli. Saudi Arabia affirmed support for international efforts to preserve its unity and the security, praising the steps taken by the Libyan authority to meet the aspirations and hopes of the Libyan people towards achieving a united, sovereign state that enjoys peace, security, stability and development.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Sports to hold discussions with the Qatari side on a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the sports and youth sector between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

It also authorized the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance to hold discussions with the Greek side on a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Education and Religions in Greece in the field of Islamic affairs.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Tourism to hold discussions with the British side on a draft memorandum of understanding in the tourism field between the Ministry of Tourism in Saudi Arabia and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in the Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It also authorized the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture to hold discussions with the Secretariat of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on a draft cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia and the Secretariat of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

The Cabinet approved the organization of the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Center for Planning and Linguistic Policies, while approving the licensing of the Sohar International Bank to open a branch to practice banking businesses in Saudi Arabia and authorizing the Minister of Finance to consider any application to open other branches for the bank in Saudi Arabia. — SPA