Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Saudi Council of Ministers denounced the resumption of Israeli occupation forces' aggression on the Gaza Strip. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman chaired the Cabinet session in Jeddah on Tuesday.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet emphasized the international community's responsibility to intervene urgently to stop these crimes and end the humanitarian crisis faced by the Palestinian people.

At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the discussions held during his telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Cabinet reviewed the latest developments in the Arab, regional, and international arenas, reiterating the Kingdom's steadfast positions on these issues and its support for efforts promoting regional and global security and stability.

Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet welcomed the conclusion of peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the signing of a border demarcation agreement between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It extended best wishes for their continued progress and prosperity.

On the domestic front, the Cabinet commended the launch of the Saudi Architecture Characters Map, which highlights 19 architectural styles that represent the Kingdom’s geographical, natural, and cultural traits, and contributes to the preservation of urban heritage, the enhancement of quality of life, and the development of urban landscapes.

The Cabinet discussed strategies to boost development and service projects and reinforce the social welfare and protection system in order to accelerate progress, harness potential, and achieve the nation's ambitions. The Cabinet reviewed indicators of the national economy's performance and the Kingdom's credit rating upgrades by international agencies, emphasizing the continued implementation of structural reforms and the creation of an environment conducive to unprecedented economic transformation and diversification, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

Al-Dossary reported that the Cabinet expressed appreciation for the proactive security monitoring and response to drug smuggling networks, carried out in partnership with friendly countries. The Cabinet specifically praised the Iraqi Ministry of Interior for intercepting an attempt to smuggle 7 million amphetamine pills, acting on information provided by the Saudi Ministry of Interior.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of interior or his deputy to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministries of Interior of Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the field of scientific, training, and research activities.

The Council approved a cultural cooperation memorandum between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and a MoU for economic cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Investment of Comoros.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of municipalities and housing and chairman of the Real Estate General Authority or his deputy to discuss and sign a draft MoU between the Saudi authority and the Qatar's Real Estate Regulatory Authority for cooperation in the real estate sector.

The Council approved an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iceland to avoid double taxation on income taxes and prevent tax evasion and avoidance, along with its accompanying protocol, and an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.

The Cabinet also approved two agreements on air transport services between Saudi Arabia and Suriname and Lithuania, and another MoU between the General Authority for Statistics in Saudi Arabia and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Gulf Area Office to collaborate on Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.

The Council approved a MoU between the Saudi Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) and the Ministry of Education and the Reform of the Education System in Mauritania to enhance assessment, measurement, and accreditation tools, and another MoU on technical and vocational training between the ETEC and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission in Pakistan.

It authorized the Saudi Institute of Internal Auditors to negotiate and sign a MoU with the Malaysian Institute of Internal Auditors, focusing on cooperation in internal auditing, governance, and compliance.