JEDDAH — The Cabinet, chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Tuesday evening at Al-Salam Palace here, discussed the latest developments in the region and the world, especially the continuing repercussions of the storming by Israeli police of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It deplored the repeated assaults in the Palestinian territories, calling on the international community to play its role in holding the occupation forces fully responsible for these crimes and violations, citing their negative consequences on the chances of reviving the peace process in the Middle East.

At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet was briefed on the talks that took place between the Kingdom and several countries over the past few days, which focused on bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them, as well as regional and international issues.

It was briefed on the phone calls the Crown Prince had with the Chinese president, the president of Kazakhstan, the Russian president, and the Pakistani prime minister successively.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet addressed the developments of the situation in Ukraine, stressing the Kingdom's support for efforts that would lead to a political solution to the crisis and achieve security and stability.

He stated that the Kingdom will continue to stand by the affected and needy people around the world to alleviate their suffering, and announced providing urgent medical and shelter assistance worth $10 million to refugees from Ukraine to neighboring countries in coordination with the United Nations.

The Cabinet reiterated the right of both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to exploit the natural resources in the divided submerged area, and the joint work to continue developing and exploiting the Al-Durra field located in that area, in implementation of the minutes agreed and signed in this regard between the two countries on March 21, 2022.

The Cabinet considered the Kingdom’s credit rating improvment twice since the beginning of this year, distinguished from the G-20 countries, as a result of the efforts made during the past five years per the objectives of Vision 2030, which positively reflected on the effectiveness of fiscal policy and raising the efficiency of government performance.

The Cabinet was also briefed on the topics on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shoura Council as well as the decisions taken by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs; the Council of Political and Security Affairs; the Cabinet's General Committee, and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts in this regard.

The Cabinet also approved Saudi Arabia's accession to the Convention on Special Missions (1969), and authorized a memorandum of understanding in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture of the French Republic.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance to discuss with the Angolan side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Angola in the field of Islamic affairs.

The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of Oman for cooperation in commercial fields. It also approved an agreement between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of Azerbaijan on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.

The Cabinet authorized the Attorney General to discuss with the Kenyan side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Public Prosecution of Saudi Arabia and the Public Prosecution of Kenya in the field of investigation and public prosecution.

The Cabinet approved an agreement between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of Egypt regarding investments of the Public Investment Fund in Egypt. The Cabinet approved the real estate registration system. The Cabinet amended the organization of the Saudi Export Development Authority. — SPA