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 the Cabinet's virtual session here today.

At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques extended thanks to Allah the Almighty for bestowing his mercy on this blessed country to have the honor of offering the highest levels of service to the two holy mosques and their worshippers. The monarch also extended thanks to Allah for the complete successes of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in running all Hajj and Umrah seasons through enabling the pilgrims to perform their rituals in a healthy free of pandemics environment amid an integrated system of services and facilities provided through modern technologies and advanced methods at the highest levels of security and safety amid the coronavirus pandemic, which necessitated the enforcement of temporary organizational and preventive measures according to the global health controls and standards.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency following the session, Dr. Issam bin Saad bin Saeed, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet, said on behalf of the Minister of Media, that the Cabinet was briefed on the overall contacts, meetings and consultations the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made with a number of sisterly and friendly countries over the past days to upgrade its relations with them to wider horizons in a way that serves bilateral interests and enhances coordination as regards the developments of situations in the region and the world to preserve world security and peace and strengthen multilateral frameworks through partnerships and collective work.

The Cabinet reiterated emphasizing the status of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to occupy a leading position among the world's contributing countries in whatever achieves development, prosperity and peace for all countries of the world. In this regard, the Cabinet referred to the speech delivered by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at the Education Summit recently held in London under the theme : Financing Partnership for Education 2021 - 2025 , citing the interest and keenness of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on supporting global initiatives and programs aiming to enhance education economies and systems in beneficiary countries to provide high-level services for whoever is in dire need of the service amid the pandemic.

Dr. Issam bin Saeed indicated that the Cabinet touched on the Kingdom's affirmation during its participation in the International Conference on Central and South Asia held in Uzbekistan that it continues to work with its partners in international organizations to combat the coronavirus pandemic, enhance the appropriate environment for development and growth, increase trade partnerships across regions, and support all efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

The Cabinet reviewed the latest developments regionally and globally, reiterating the Kingdom's support the security and stability of the Republic of Tunisia, emphasizing confidence in the Tunisian leadership to overcome the conditions witnessed by its country and to achieve a decent life and prosperity for its people, and called on the international community to stand by Tunisia in these circumstances to confront its health and economic challenges.

The Cabinet considers the relief aid provided by the Kingdom to a number of Arab and Islamic countries to mitigate the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, as an continuation of the humanitarian role it plays towards the worst affected countries, and to continue extending a helping hand, and to contribute to supporting international efforts in this regard.

Dr. Issam bin Saeed stated that the Cabinet condemned the continued attempts of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to target civilian objects and civilians with ballistic missiles and drones towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and threaten shipping lines and global trade in the Red Sea. The Cabinet praised in this context the efficiency of the Saudi air defenses in thwarting those attempts and the contribution of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen to secure the navigation and the safety of ships crossing Bab Al-Mandab strait.

The Cabinet was briefed on the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic regionally and internationally and the great success of Saudi Arabia’s efforts in limiting the effects imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of life, including working to increase social immunity by providing more than 27 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for citizens and residents, to be ranked among the best countries in giving vaccines.

The Cabinet reviewed a number of topics on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council. The Cabinet was also briefed on the results reached by each of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Cabinet, and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts

The Cabinet issued the following decisions:

First:

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Health, or his representative, to discuss and sign with the American side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of public health and medical sciences.

Second:

The Cabinet approved the regional protocol for technical cooperation to borrow and transfer experts, technicians, devices, equipment, and materials in emergency cases.

Third:

The Cabinet approved a protocol between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Center Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) to establish a regional office for CEDARE in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Fourth:

The Cabinet approved of the joint customs cooperation agreement between the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Customs Affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain for mutual recognition of the economic operator program approved by both countries.

Fifth:

The Cabinet approved to amend the regulation of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority - issued by Cabinet Resolution No. (302) and dated 9/11/1433 AH.

Sixth:

The Cabinet approved to amend Article twenty-third of the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/19) dated 4/23/1429 AH.

Seventh:

The Cabinet approved of the partial amendments to the International Radio Regulations - contained in the final documents of the World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC) 2019, and authorizing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or his representative, to sign the form of the instrument of ratification for those amendments.

Eighth:

The Cabinet appointed Dr. Abdulrahman bin Mohammad Al-Barrak, Abdullah bin Ali Almajdouie, and Amer bin Abdullah Reda, members of the private sector related to public transport activity in the Board of Directors of the Transport General Authority.

Ninth:

The Cabinet approved of the final accounts of the General Authority for Competition, the Saudi Agricultural Development Fund, and the General Commission for the Guardianship of Trust Funds for Miniros and their Counterparts, and the Decision Support Center, for previous financial years.

Tenth:

The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at the 14th and 15th ranks.

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