Saudi Gazette report
JEDDAH — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman reassured the Saudi people about the well-being of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who is undergoing treatment at Al-Salam Palace after being diagnosed on Sunday with lung infection.
Chairing the weekly session of the Council of Ministers in Jeddah on Tuesday, the Crown Prince prayed to God Almighty for the King’s fast recovery and continued good health. Prince Mohammed bin Salman also extended his appreciation to those who expressed concern over the condition of the Monarch and inquired about his health.
At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on his participation in the 33rd Arab Summit held last week in Manama, Bahrain. He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s focus on Arab and regional issues, as well as joint Arab action, regional security, and safeguarding of Arab interests during the tenure of 32nd Presidency of the Arab Summit, held by Saudi Arabia.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosary said that the Cabinet discussed the government’s recent activities, foremost of which those efforts to strengthen regional and international cooperation, and advance bilateral and multilateral partnerships in various sectors with friendly countries.
The Cabinet hailed the success of the second ministerial meeting of the Net-Zero Producers Forum, hosted by Saudi Arabia, which underscored the Kingdom’s leading position in tackling climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Council hailed the recommendations of the Arab Forum of Anti-Corruption Agencies and Financial Intelligence Units, hosted by Riyadh, and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation to fight money laundering, financing terrorism, and corruption at all levels.
The Cabinet expressed pride over the fact that the country continued to stay at the helm of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) Executive Council for a third consecutive term, saying that this achievement underscores the Kingdom’s leading role in advancing ALECSO’s programs and goals, and maximizing its impact on the Arab world.
The Crown Prince said that his recent visit to the Eastern Province is a reflection of the leadership's commitment to connect with citizens throughout the Kingdom, as well as to observe firsthand development projects that are under way in various cities.
The Cabinet commended the impressive medal haul that Saudi students have garnered at ISEF and ITEX this year, stressing that this achievement reflects the government’s utmost keenness to supporting the education sector, research, and innovation, to empowering future generations to compete on the global stage and contribute to a better future for humanity.
Al-Dosary said the Cabinet took the following decisions: It authorized minister of energy or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Pakistani side a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of energy. It authorized the minister of interior or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Qatari Ministry of Interior a draft MoU in scientific, training and research activities, in addition to authorizing minister of environment, water and agriculture or his deputy to discuss and sign with Tajikistan’s Committee for Environmental Protection a draft MoU for cooperation in the field of environmental protection.
The Council approved the accession of Saudi Arabia to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, and a MoU for cooperation in the logistics sector between the Saudi Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services and Djibouti’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Equipment.
The Council authorized minister of transport and logistics services and chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation or his deputy to sign a draft agreement with Costa Rica in the field of air transport services.
It approved a model of a memorandum of cooperation in the postal field between the Saudi Post and its counterparts in other countries, and authorizing the minister of transport and logistics and chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Post or his deputy to hold talks with counterparts in other countries, and sign the said draft memorandum.
The Council’s decisions also include approving a cooperation agreement between the Saudi Presidency of State Security and Pakistan’s military intelligence agency to combat terrorism and its financing, and endorsing the Board of Grievances to hold talks with the US Southern Methodist University regarding a draft MoU in the field of research and training, and sign it.
The Cabinet authorized president of King Faisal University or his deputy to hold talks and sign a draft MoU with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
