JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers session, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam Palace on Tuesday afternoon, reiterated the determination to continue implementing economic initiatives and reforms to achieve the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.

This decision was arrived at after addressing a number of reports on indicators of the national economy, the results of the State's General Budget, and the performance of public agencies during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2022.

At the outset of the session, the Cabinet addressed the recent talks and discussions that took place between Saudi Arabia and a number of countries, including the phone call the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister received from France’s president, during which they reiterated the strategic bilateral relations, and reviewed the regional and global developments as well as efforts exerted regarding them.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid Bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet touched upon the outcomes of the meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee between the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the United States Defense Department, and the third session of the Saudi-Algerian Political Consultation Committee, as they highlighted consensus on strengthening cooperation and coordination in everything that contributes to laying the foundations of security and stability regionally and globally.

The Cabinet reiterated Saudi Arabia’s speech during the Global Food Security Ministerial Meeting. Saudi Arabia affirmed that its foreign policy places great attention to providing circumstances supporting development and realizing the aspirations of people in receiving a bright future, whether in the Middle East or the entire world.

This includes its qualitative initiatives to face environmental challenges, and humanitarian efforts to support the developing and neediest countries to enhance their food security and reduce hunger and poverty.

The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding regarding the establishment of a strategic partnership council between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It authorized the minister of foreign affairs to hold talks with the Colombian side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Columbia.

The Cabinet also authorizing the minister of foreign affairs to hold talks with the Sierra Leone side regarding a draft general cooperation agreement and a draft memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between Saudi Arabia and Sierra Leone.

The Cabinet approved the minister of islamic affairs, call and guidance to hold talks with Côte d'Ivoire regarding a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of Islamic affairs between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Interior and Security in Côte d'Ivoire.

It authorized the minister of investment to hold talks with Ghana regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of Ghana for cooperation in stimulating direct investment.

It approved a draft memorandum of understanding between the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority in Saudi Arabia and the Singaporean Customs on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs issues.

The Cabinet approved a draft memorandum of understanding between the General Authority for Awqaf in Saudi Arabia and Islamic Development Bank for cooperation in the Awqaf field. — SPA