Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Chairs Cabinet Session, Discusses Key National and International Developments
Riyadh, November 5, 2024 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet session held in Riyadh today. During the session, the Crown Prince provided a detailed briefing on his recent meetings and discussions with leaders of several brotherly and friendly countries, which focused on strengthening bilateral relations and exploring opportunities for cooperation in various fields.
Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary, speaking to the Saudi Press Agency after the session, highlighted the Cabinet's praise for the third meeting of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council security committee. The initiatives discussed at the meeting aim to deepen the fraternal ties between the two nations and open new avenues for collaboration.
The Cabinet also lauded the outcomes of the second ministerial meeting of the Saudi-Indian Strategic Partnership Council economic and investment committee. The progress made in critical areas such as industry, infrastructure, technology, agriculture, food security, climate sciences, and sustainable transportation was noted as a significant step toward achieving shared goals between the two nations.
Discussing Saudi Arabia's recent participation in G20 meetings, the Cabinet emphasized the Kingdom’s efforts in promoting sustainability in education, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and contributing to global health challenges. The session underscored the importance of Saudi Arabia's role in addressing pressing global issues.
On regional matters, the Cabinet discussed the Kingdom's active efforts to promote peace and security. This includes hosting the first meeting of the Global Alliance for Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which saw the participation of 90 countries and regional and international organizations to discuss establishing an independent Palestinian state. Additionally, the Cabinet highlighted the Kingdom's call for a joint Arab-Islamic follow-up summit to address ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestinian and Lebanese territories.
The crisis in Sudan was also on the agenda, with the Cabinet reiterating that a political resolution is the only viable solution. It called on the warring factions to honor the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration of May 11, 2023, urging an end to hostilities and the facilitation of humanitarian aid to affected populations.
Domestically, the Cabinet celebrated the Kingdom's advancement in the 2023 international tourist revenue rankings, moving up 15 places compared to 2019.
This progress highlights Saudi Arabia’s leadership and achievements in the global tourism sector.
Several key decisions were issued during the session, including:
Accession to the Cement and Concrete Breakthrough Initiative: Saudi Arabia will join this initiative launched on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Political Consultations with Estonia: Approval of a memorandum of understanding for political consultations between the Saudi and Estonian foreign ministries.
Tax Agreement with Qatar: Approval of an agreement to prevent double taxation and tax evasion between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
UNICEF Cooperation: Authorization for discussions with UNICEF on a memorandum of understanding for multiple indicator cluster surveys.
Airspace and Outer Space Cooperation with the U.S.: Approval of a framework agreement for collaboration in air navigation and space exploration for peaceful purposes.
Meteorological Collaboration: Approval of a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi National Center for Meteorology and the World Meteorological Organization.
Foreign Direct Investment Framework: Approval in principle of a national framework and guiding principles to encourage foreign direct investment.
The Cabinet's decisions reflect the Kingdom's commitment to sustainable development, international cooperation, and economic growth.