RIYADH — The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace here Tuesday, applauded the contents of the US magazine’s Atlantic's interview with the Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman last week, stressing it covered the whole ambit of the regional and world view with regards to the ongoing reforms and Vision 2030.

The interview highlighted the development, modernization, reforms and major projects that the Kingdom is witnessing within the programs of the Saudi Vision 2030, according to its economic and cultural components, its people and history.

The Cabinet lauded the Crown Prince’s strategic move in making the Kingdom assume its historical responsibility towards the Islamic world by confronting extremism and terrorism and continuing to strengthen bilateral cooperation and strategic partnerships with countries of the world on the basis of mutual respect and common interests.

At the outset of the session, the King Salman briefed the Cabinet on the outcomes of discussions held with Bahrain’s King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, as the discussions reflected the depth of existing relations between the two countries and keenness to develop them in all fields. The discussions also emphasized unity and the common destiny towards all regional and international issues and developments.

The King also briefed the Cabinet on the content of the two letters he received from Interim President of the Republic of Mali and President the Republic of Benin.

The Cabinet then addressed the content of two phone calls that the Crown Prince received from President of Russian Federation and President of Ukraine, during which Saudi Arabia’s support for everything that contributes to de-escalating the crisis was affirmed as well as its readiness to exert efforts to mediate between all parties and its support for all international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis politically.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the official visit of the Cyprus President to Saudi Arabia and the talks held with the Crown Prince.

The two sides expressed satisfaction with the level reached in bilateral relations and the common desire to work on developing a strategy with the aim of strengthening cooperation in all fields in a way that serves the interests of both countries and achieves security and stability in the region.

The Cabinet reviewed the meetings of 39th session of the Arab Interior Ministers Council in Tunisia, including Saudi Arabia’s speech that stressed the importance of cooperation and exerting efforts to intensify joint coordination in a comprehensive technical and human system maintaining security and stability in the region and keeping pace with the fields of technology and cybersecurity.

The Cabinet reiterated the content of the Kingdom’s speech delivered at the high-level meeting of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Saudi Arabia confirmed interest in human rights and keenness to take all necessary steps that would enhance and protect human rights, citing the initiative of the Crown Prince to protect children in cyberspace, to confront cyber threats targeting children on the Internet, and the issuance of the national policy to prevent child labor.

The Cabinet commended the launch of the Strategy of the Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, which is a part of the Kingdom’s efforts to develop human capabilities and enhance Saudi competitiveness locally and globally within the framework of Vision 2030 objectives and in alignment with its priorities, programs, and the evolving labor market needs.

The Cabinet affirmed that lifting the precautionary and preventive measures related to combating the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a result of the gains achieved in combating the pandemic, then to the unlimited support of the wise leadership, and effective national efforts from all sides, and progress in the national vaccination program and the high rates of immunization and immunity against the virus in the community.

The Cabinet, which was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda, authorized the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance to hold talks regarding draft memorandums of understanding between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in Saudi Arabia and each of: Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Gabon, Islamic Association in Congo Brazzaville, and High Council for Islamic Affairs in Equatorial Guinea, in the field of Islamic affairs.

The Cabinet approved the Personal Status Bylaw.

It approved a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. It also okayed the minister of investment to hold talks with the Cypriot side regarding a draft framework cooperation program to enhance bilateral relations in the investment field.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of finance to hold talks with the Egyptian side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the respective ministries on holding a high-level financial dialogue.

It approved the chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Space Commission to hold talks with the Italian side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Space Commission and the Italian Space Agency for cooperation in space activities for peaceful purposes.

In addition, the president of the General Court of Audit was given the go ahead to hold talks with the Azeri side regarding a memorandum of understanding between the General Court of Audit in Saudi Arabia and the Chamber of Auditors in Azerbaijan on cooperation in accounting, monitoring and professional work.

It approved Saudi Arabia's accession to Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals and it okayed organizational arrangements for the committee to determine and develop investment opportunities emanating from the Higher National Committee for Investment at the Council of Economic and Development Affairs. — SPA