Riyadh summit to boost GCC ties, hopes Cabinet

Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH – The upcoming summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in the Saudi capital will enhance cooperation and integration and boost relations among them, the Council of Ministers said here on Tuesday.

The summit, scheduled for next Tuesday, is set to discuss important regional and international political developments and the security situation in the region.

The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, congratulated the monarch on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of his accession to the throne. It said the country has achieved stability and prosperity under his rule and is continuing development march in various fields, locally and globally.

The Cabinet said the guidance and directives of the prudent leadership have resulted in the security and stability of the Kingdom and strengthening its leading role regionally and internationally.

At the outset of the session, Cabinet members offered their sincere condolences to King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and the royal family, on the death of Prince Miteb Bin Abdulaziz, praying to Almighty Allah to bestow mercy upon the soul of the deceased.

The King expressed his thanks and appreciation to leaders and envoys of several countries, who offered their condolences on the death of Prince Miteb, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Minister of Media Turki Bin Abdullah Al-Shabanah said the Cabinet hailed the visit paid to the United Arab Emirates last week by Crown Prince Muhammad.

The ministers stressed that the crown prince’s visit underscored the harmony between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in achieving the interests of their people and bolstering development in the region.

They hailed the meeting of the Saudi-UAE coordination council, which was held in Abu Dhabi during the crown prince’s visit.

The Cabinet also welcomed the Kingdom’s assuming of the presidency of the G20 as it prepares to host next year’s summit in November. It welcomed the launch of Saudi Arabia’s preparations to host the global event at the directives of King Salman and the follow-up of Crown Prince Muhammad.

Saudi Arabia is committed to continuing the work that kicked off during the 2019 summit in Osaka as it seeks to achieve tangible accomplishments and benefit from the Kingdom’s unique location between three continents.

The Cabinet said the Kingdom has reaffirmed at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna that the Palestinian cause is its first concern and will remain so until the Palestinian people attain all their rights, including recognition of East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as their undisputed capital.

In addition, the Kingdom stressed its rejection of any measures that would prejudice the historical and legal status of the occupied city of Jerusalem and any attempt to Judaize it, asking the international community to assume its responsibilities toward providing international protection to the Palestinian people.

The Cabinet, Minister of Media Al-Shabanah said, considered the election of Saudi Arabia by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a member of the World Heritage Committee for the first time, as a reflection of the unlimited support for the cultural sector from the wise leadership and an affirmation of the international community's confidence in the Kingdom's position and its role in supporting the efforts of preserving the World Heritage.

On local affairs, the Cabinet touched on the care and attention given by King Salman to national history, and the support initiatives that contribute to the development of methodology and programs to upgrade the historical activities to enrich the scientific and cultural movement, including the King's confirmation during his chairmanship of the 50th meeting of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, the foundation's development of the curriculum of social studies in public education and the national history curriculum for universities in cooperation with the ministry of education.