JEDDAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman chaired the weekly Cabinet session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah Tuesday afternoon.

At the outset of the session, the Cabinet discussed Saudi Arabia's keenness to strengthen and develop relations with many fraternal and friendly countries, through exchanging visits and strengthening cooperation and consultation, reflecting the Kingdom’s position and its regional and international role.

In this context, the Cabinet commended the results of the talks Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister, held with the President of Uzbekistan during his official visit to the Kingdom and the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two countries in various fields, as well as the announcement of the investment and bilateral commercial transactions worth more than $12.5 billion.

The Cabinet was briefed on the content of the phone call received by the Crown Prince from the Chancellor of Germany, during which bilateral relations and ways to develop joint cooperation between the two friendly countries were reviewed, in addition to discussing the latest regional and international developments, and the efforts made to achieve stability and peace.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said as for national affairs, the Cabinet reviewed the successes that have been achieved in the field of education, including progress at 16 indicators of global competitiveness, and the rise of eight positions compared to last year according to the World Competitiveness Yearbook for 2022, which is a reflection of the efforts to improve the quality of the education sector as a basic pillar for achieving aspirations for progress and leadership.

The Cabinet was also briefed on the issues on the agenda, including topics the Shoura Council included in its study.

The Cabinet was briefed 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.

In a major decision on Tuesday, the Council of Ministers approved the new tourism law.

In other decisions, it authorized the Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (RITA) or a deputy to discuss with the Korean side a draft memorandum of understanding between RITA in the Kingdom and Korea National University of Cultural Heritage in Korea for cooperation in the field of traditional arts and sign it before referring the signed final draft to proceed with formal procedures.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Justice, or a deputy, to sign with the Gambian side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Justice and its Gambian counterpart, and refer the signed draft to proceed with formal procedures.

Thirdly, the Minister of Tourism, or a deputy, has been authorized to negotiate with countries expected to join the International Center for Sustainable Tourism a draft memorandum of understanding model between the Saudi Ministry of Tourism and the ministries of tourism in those countries regarding the establishment of the center.

The Minister of Education or a deputy has been authorized to negotiate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and sign a draft agreement between the Saudi government of and the UN agency for the operation of the Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Public Education as a second category center under the supervision of UNESCO.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at) — or a deputy — to discuss with the Omani side a draft memorandum of cooperation between Monsha'at in the Kingdom and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority in the Sultanate in the field of developing the small enterprises sector and entrepreneurship.

The Cabinet approved an agreement between the Saudi government and Bangladesh on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.

It approved a memorandum of understanding between Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Egypt in the field of communications and information technology.

The meeting also approved the draft agreement to establish the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council.

The Cabinet approved the transfer the ownership of assets, granting rights, and transferring the state’s financial and contractual obligations and rights related to health services provided by the Ministry of Health to the Health Holding Company (HHC) or any of its subsidiaries.

The Cabinet appointed Eng. Ayman bin Ishaq Afghani as a member of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, representing the Ministry of Economy and Planning.

It renewed the membership of Dr. Hatem bin Dakhil Al-Dakhil, and appointed Eng. Abdurrahman bin Ahmed Shams Al-Din as a member, representing the private sector, in the Board of Directors of the National Center for Research and Development of Sustainable Agriculture (Estidama).

The Cabinet also reviewed a number of general issues on its agenda, including annual reports of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services; the General Authority for Statistics; the National Center for Wildlife Development and the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, and took necessary measures. — SPA