(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency) Jeddah, Sep. 28, 2022, SPA -- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session held at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon.
At the outset of the session, the Cabinet was briefed on the contents of the recent talks and consultations covering the current developments at the international arena that took place between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a number of fraternal and friendly countries' leaders and their representatives.
In this context, the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's support for the good offices aimed at finding a political solution that would lead to an end to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, and to continue contributing at the humanitarian level to alleviating its impacts, expressing thanks to the governments of the Russian Federation and Ukraine for their cooperation and response to the mediation of HRH Crown Prince in releasing prisoners of different nationalities, as part of his efforts to adopt humanitarian initiatives.
Subsequently, the Cabinet addressed the results of the Kingdom's participation in the 77th session of the UN General Assembly and the bilateral and multilateral meetings held on the sidelines of its activities, during which the Kingdom highlighted its emphasis on continuing to support joint action and strengthening international cooperation to meet the challenges the world faces, and initiating everything that contributes to achieving a more peaceful and just world, and a promising future for the peoples and next generations.
In his statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the meeting, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet reviewed the overall situations and its courses in the region, stressing the contents of the statement issued by the International Quartet on Yemen, and its condemnation of the military reinforcements of Houthi militia and its attacks inside Yemen, which threatened to disrupt the truce, and the affirmation of full support for the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy to extend and expand the truce, and the full implementation of all its conditions.
The Cabinet pointed out to the Kingdom's confirmation - during the general debate of the 51st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on the importance of promoting a culture of dialogue, cooperation, tolerance and respect for noble values and other cultures, considering their diversity as a key to achieving prosperity and sustainable development for all peoples of the world.
On domestic affairs, the Cabinet commended the attention paid by the State to the programs and strategies based on the Kingdom's Vision, especially with regard to the housing needs of citizens and the quality of services being provided to them including continuing to work on facilitating and increasing home ownership rates to reach the target of (70% by 2030), continuing to improve the quality of municipal services, enhancing the urban landscape and developing infrastructure, in addition to optimizing and sustainable use of natural and water resources.
The Cabinet hailed the Kingdom's topping the G20 countries in the rate of international tourist arrivals during the first seven months of 2022, with an increase of 121% compared to the same period in 2019, according to the latest reports issued by the World Tourism Organization, considering that as a continuation of the qualitative leaps in the tourism sector, which provides job opportunities for the Kingdom's citizens, and represents a cultural bridge to communicate with the world.
The Cabinet was briefed on the topics on its agenda, as well as on the conclusions reached by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council for Political and Security Affairs, the Cabinet's General Committee and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts in this regard.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:
First:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Culture, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, or his representative, to discuss and co-sign with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ALECSO.
Second:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Investment, or his representative, to discuss and co-sign with the Chinese side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China on cooperation in the field of direct investment promotion.
Third:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Investment, or his representative, to discuss and co-sign with Hong Kong's side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China on cooperation in the field of direct investment promotion.
Fourth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance, or his representative, to discuss and co-sign with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) a draft memorandum of understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and IMF regarding the establishment of a regional office for IMF in the Kingdom, as well as supporting it in the field of capacity development.
Fifth:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Health, or his representative, to discuss and co-sign with the Moroccan side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Morocco on cooperation in health fields.
Sixth:
The Cabinet approved the system of using security surveillance cameras.
Seventh:
The Cabinet approved the introduction of an educational visa (long-term) to be granted to students, researchers and experts for the purposes of academic study and research visit, and an educational visa (short-term) to be granted to students, researchers and visiting trainees for the purposes of language study, training, participation in short programs and student exchange programs. The Cabinet approved that holders of educational visa (long-term) and educational visa (short-term) are all excluded from the statutory requirements related to providing a sponsor.
Eighth:
The Cabinet approved an amendment of the organization of the General Authority for Statistics.
Ninth:
The Cabinet approved a number of appointments and promotions at the 14th rank.
The Cabinet also reviewed several issues on its agenda and took necessary procedures regarding them.
--SPA
00:13 LOCAL TIME 21:13 GMT
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