King Salman lauded for Vision 2030 plan

The Cabinet has praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for Vision 2030, saying it would transform the economy and ensure sustainable, long-term development.
This came at a Cabinet meeting at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday, which was chaired by King Salman. The ministers also praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, deputy premier and interior minister, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second deputy premier and defense minister, for their work in devising the strategy.
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, Culture and Information Minister Adel Al-Toraifi said that the ministers lauded the king for adopting the measures proposed by the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, which is chaired by the deputy crown prince.
Al-Toraifi said the ministers had referred to a speech delivered by the king last week when he stated that the decisions of the government were based on the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The king had further said that the government was committed to ensuring benefits accrue from the country’s strategic location and natural resources to achieve a better future for citizens, and ensure it becomes a model for all nations, said Al-Toraifi.
At the outset of the session, King Salman briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, which saw the signing of a pact to set up the Saudi-Jordanian Coordination Council. The body would ensure the establishment of mutually beneficial projects and investments.
The king also briefed the Cabinet on his talks with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan during which several agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed, said Al-Toraifi.
King Salman also briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meeting with the Interior Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which had praised the Kingdom for its role in seeking to bring peace and prosperity to the region.
Al-Toraifi said the Cabinet had congratulated King Salman for the success of the GCC summit, which included Morocco, held in Riyadh at Al-Diriyah palace, where the leaders gathered had agreed to work together on the political, economic, military, security and other fronts. 
The Cabinet ministers further praised the monarch for the major successes achieved at a meeting between the GCC leaders and American President Barack Obama, also at Al-Diriyah palace. The gathering had confirmed the ongoing strategic partnership between the long time allies, and the progress made since the Camp David meeting to stabilize and secure the region.
The Cabinet again condemned Bashar Assad for attacking the city of Aleppo, which led to the destruction of a hospital run by an international organization, killing and injuring dozens, including children and doctors. The ministers said that Assad was continually violating international peace agreements and preventing a political solution to the conflict.
The Cabinet praised the efforts of the security authorities to combat terrorism, including the recent operations that prevented an attack by extremists in two vehicles outside Bisha governorate in Asir region, one of which was loaded with explosives. 
Al-Toraifi said the Cabinet announced several decisions including the Agreement on the Demarcation of Maritime Boundaries between the Kingdom and Egypt. A royal decree has been prepared, he said, referring to the Tiran and Sanafir islands now falling within Saudi territorial waters. 
The agreement was previously approved by the Shoura Council and refers to the pact signed on April 8 between Egypt and Saudi Arabia during King Salman’s visit to Cairo, where several other deals were signed.
The Cabinet also authorized the Ministry of Housing to discuss a number of draft memorandums of understanding with the United Kingdom, France, and China.