Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, chaired on Tuesday the Cabinet's virtual session.

At the outset of the session, the Cabinet hailed the contents of the speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques at the Leaders' Summit on Climate, which embodied the pioneering role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its qualitative initiatives in facing the phenomenon of climate change and reducing emissions, and preserving the environment and its components, as well as its great support for the clean energy programs, innovations and transition to the green projects, which are targeted in the Saudi Vision 2030, in addition to its efforts during its presidency of the G20 last year in pushing forward adopting concepts of a circular carbon economy and launching two international initiatives to reduce land degradation and protect coral reefs.

Upon a royal directive, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs briefed the Cabinet on the achievements of the programs and projects of the Saudi Vision 2030, which were approved by the Cabinet on 25 April, 2016AD.

HRH the Crown Prince reviewed the most important reforms and achievements of the vision realization programs during its first phase, which focused on establishing the enabling infrastructure, building the institutional and legislative structures, developing the public policies and enabling the initiatives, including raising the quality and efficiency of the health services, increasing the ownership opportunities in the housing sector, the progress made in diversifying the national economy, acceleration of the non-oil GDP growth, the business environment reforms, strengthening the partnership with the private sector, creating many job opportunities, the efforts to empower women, providing various options for the entertainment, highlighting the cultural heritage, developing the promising economic sectors which include tourism, mining, military industries, and others, attracting the foreign investments, enhancing the digital infrastructure, the government digital transformation, upgrading the government systems and services provided to the citizens, combating corruption, consolidating the principle of transparency and accountability, tracking and monitoring the government performance and its effectiveness, and developing the non-profit sector.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques valued the efforts exerted by the government agencies and the partners of the Saudi Vision 2030 from the private and non-profit sectors as well as the citizens in order to achieve the strategic goals of the Saudi Vision 2030, which aspires to a better future for the country and the citizens. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques directed all ministers and officials to continue exerting the efforts, employing and harnessing all capabilities during the next phase, to complete achieving the goals according to what was planned, and to meet the aspirations of the country.

The Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) pointed out that the Cabinet, following that, discussed latest events, in the regional as well as in the world, stressing contents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's speech before the UN Security Council, during a session held under the item: "The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question," and what it expressed of deep concern of the region's states over the escalating steps adopted by Iran to demise regional security and stability, including its nuclear program, its subversive role through supporting the Houthi terrorist militias and their attacks on the oil facilities, civilians and infrastructure, besides calling on the international community to resolutely stand against Israeli policies and push the peace process forward, towards reaching an agreement that would restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

The Cabinet also followed up the latest developments related to the Coronavirus' pandemic, locally and internationally, and the latest reported statistics related to the Virus as well as other relevant indicators, such as the trends of the curves, ongoing exerted efforts preserve the public hygiene of the community and to protect the gains achieved over the last span of time, at all levels.

The Cabinet reviewed the topics on its agenda, including topics that the Shura Council participated in studying them, as well as the findings of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Council of Ministers, and the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers in this regard.

The Cabinet issued the following decisions:

First: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Sports, or his representative, to negotiate with the Kuwaiti side, regarding a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of sports and a draft cooperation agreement in the field of youth between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the State of Kuwait, and to sign them, and then submit the final two signed copies, to complete legal procedures.

Second: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding regarding the strategic dialogue between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in the Republic of Italy.

Third: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation and news exchange between the Saudi Press Agency and Vietnam News Agency.

Forth: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Human Resources, Social Development, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Public Administration - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding between the Institute of Public Administration in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Institute of Public Administration in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Fifth: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between Food and Drug Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health, Labor and welfare in Japan in the field of medicinal products.

Sixth: The Cabinet approved the renewing the membership of Khalid bin Hassan bin Abdul Karim Al-Qahtani, Nasser bin Abdul Latif bin Ahmed Al-Fawzan, and Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Al-Subaie, as members of the Board of Directors of the King Abdulaziz Arabian Horses Center as representatives for specialists in private sector or related fields to the Center.

Seventh: The Cabinet approved the classification schedule for parking usage violations in commercial and public places.

Eighth: The Cabinet approved the regulation of the Local Content and Governmental Procurement Authority.

The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at the 14 and 15 ranks, and appointed a number of acting ambassadors.

The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations.