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

(MENAFN - Saudi Press Agency) NEOM, Mar. 31, 2021, SPA -- 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 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the contents of his meeting with the Prime Minister of Iraq Mustafa Al-Kadhmi, in which the two sides underlined the firm and historical ties binding the two countries and peoples, their agreement to expand the aspects of bilateral cooperation and enhancing them in all fields, and intensifying coordination at the regional and international arenas in a way that contributes to supporting and enhancing the security and stability of the region and the joint endeavor to consolidate its pillars. Then the Cabinet was briefed on the content of a telephone call between HRH the Crown Prince and President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Mohamed Ahmed Ould El Ghazouani of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the outcome of HRH the Crown Prince's meeting with the Councilor and Foreign Minister of the Peoples Republic of China Wang Yi, during which they reviewed aspects of relations, joint cooperation opportunities and the promising chances poised for development in several sectors. The Cabinet lauded the announcement made by HRH the Crown Prince as regards the Green Saudi and the Middle East Green initiatives, set to identify the Kingdom's orientation as well as that of the region in protecting the land and nature, illustrating them in a form of a clear and vibrant road map that achieves the international objectives, enhancing the current environmental efforts in the Kingdom according to the 2030 vision and emanating from its pioneering role towards the joint international issues and complimentary to its achievements towards the protection of the earth during its presidency of the G20 last year. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet expressed appreciation of the fraternal countries of the GCC and the Middle East for their readiness to work with the Kingdom to achieve the objectives of the Middle East Green Initiative which is set to benefit the region and the world at large, as it contains ambitious initiatives targeting reducing carbon emissions, enhancing the public health and quality of life, improving oil production efficiency, increasing renewable energy rates, and achieving the sustainable development. The Cabinet addressed a host of reports on the incidents and developments, reiterating the Kingdom's strong denunciation of the continuing attempts carried out by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi Militia targeting civilians and civil objects, citing the cowardly attack on the oil products distribution station in Jazan. The Cabinet considered such attacks being committed against vital installations are not targeting only the Kingdom and its economic facilities but also the backbone of the world economy, the security of its oil exports and supplies in addition to the impact on maritime navigation. The Cabinet stressed that the Kingdom will take necessary and deterrent measures to protect its national capabilities and gains. in a way that preserves energy security and the stability of its supplies, oil exports and global trade. The Cabinet also stressed on stopping these attacks, which are a continuation of the Iranian guardianship over the political and military decision of the militias in order to achieve its subversive agenda to spread chaos and undermine regional and international security, confirming the rejection of the terrorist Houthi militia for various political efforts to end the Yemeni crisis, especially after the announcement of the Kingdom's peace initiative. The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's support for the efforts aimed at ensuring the flow of navigation, maritime trade and global supply chains in the Suez Canal, and congratulated the Arab Republic of Egypt for the successful floatation of the delinquent ship, and the return of international maritime traffic to its normal course. On the local arena, the Cabinet considered the royal order to hold exams for the second semester of all stages of education ahead of their schedule and before the start of the holiday of the blessed Eid Al-Fitr, as an extension of the leadership's wise approach. It also reflects the constant attention and care given to education that had a great impact during the Coronavirus pandemic in continuing the education remotely. The Cabinet reviewed the developments of the Coronavirus pandemic, locally and internationally, in the health and preventive aspects, and the efforts made in the Kingdom to protect the public health, the return to normal life, and the great expansion of the vaccination campaign in all regions, reaffirming the importance of adhering to the precautionary and preventive measures, and approved protocols. The Cabinet appreciated the proactive security efforts in tracking down criminal networks' activities that that used to smuggle narcotics into the Kingdom, and the contribution of the General Directorate of Narcotics Control and the General Authority of Customs in protecting community members from this scourge, after thwarting an attempt to smuggle more than 10 million amphetamine tablets. The Cabinet was briefed on the issues 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 Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of developing veterinary and livestock between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State Committee for Veterinary and Livestock Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Second: The Cabinet approved an agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the World Tourism Organization (WTO) regarding the establishment of a regional office for the WTO in the Middle East, based in Riyadh. Third: The Cabinet approved a protocol attached to the memorandum of cooperation between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of Japan on the implementation of the Saudi-Japanese Vision (2030). Fourth: The Cabinet authorized the Governor of the Saudi Central Bank - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft cooperation agreement in the field of financial technology and innovation between the Saudi Central Bank and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Fifth: The Cabinet approved the charter establishing the Digital Cooperation Organization. Sixth: The Cabinet approved the amendment of the name of The Royal Institute of Art in the National Strategy for Culture, issued by Cabinet Resolution No. (414) dated 7/19/1440 H, to be The Royal Institute for Traditional Arts, and approved its organizational arrangements. Seventh: The Cabinet approved the organizational arrangements for the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science. Eighth: The Cabinet approved the human organ donation regulation. Ninth: The Cabinet approved the appointment of Sarah Bint Jamaz bin Abdullah Al-Suhaimi as a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation as a representative of the private sector. Tenth: The Cabinet approved the abolition of the Statute of the Patent Office of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, approved by Royal Decree No. (M / 3) dated 5/17/1415 AH. Eleventh: The Cabinet approved the final accounts of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, the University of Najran, and Al-Baha University. Twelfth: The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at the 14th and 15th ranks and a post of Minister Plenipotentiary. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations. --SPA 01:00 LOCAL TIME 22:00 GMT 0001 MENAFN30032021000078011016ID1101835349