Jeddah, May 14, 2024, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session today in Jeddah.
At the onset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques welcomed the pilgrims who started arriving in the Kingdom from around the world to perform Hajj, emphasizing that serving the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, taking care of visitors, and ensuring their comfort are top priorities and concerns for the Kingdom.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques instructed the authorities involved in the implementation of Hajj plans to continue providing the best practices and the finest services to the pilgrims at the Kingdom's various points of entry, and in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites, praying that Allah grant everyone success in carrying out this great and solemn task.
The Cabinet was apprised of recent talks held by Kingdom officials with representatives of various other countries, including a phone call between His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the Ukrainian president, during which they reviewed relations and issues of mutual concern.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary said the Cabinet discussed a series of reports on current developments on the regional and international stage, and emphasized the country's commitment to collaborating with the international community to ensure global security and stability.
The Kingdom, the Cabinet said, is dedicated to cooperating and participating in international relief efforts, and to advocating for the issues of concern to Arab and other Muslim nations.
The Cabinet welcomed the recent UN General Assembly resolution supporting full membership for the State of Palestine, and stressed the urgency of ending Israeli military escalation and the violations against civilians and humanitarian workers.
The Cabinet addressed other items on its agenda, and issued several decisions, among which the following:
First:
Authorizing the minister of interior, or a deputy, to discuss and sign with the American Department of Justice a draft memorandum of understanding to exchange information on criminal records.
Second:
Approving agreements between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Costa Rica regarding mutual exemptions from short-term visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special, and official passports, and the Republic of Malta for holders of diplomatic and special passports.
Third:
Approving a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Finance and the Bahraini Ministry of Finance and National Economy.
Fourth:
Authorizing the minister of industry and mineral resources, or a deputy, to discuss and sign an MoU for cooperation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Fifth:
Authorizing the minister of health, or a deputy, to discuss and sign with the Iraqi Ministry of Health an MoU for cooperation in the field of health.
Sixth:
Authorizing the minister of education, or a deputy, to discuss and sign with the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science a draft memorandum of scientific and educational cooperation in education.
Seventh:
Approving Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University's membership in the League of Islamic Universities and its Executive Council.
Eighth:
Approving an agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Slovak Republic for the avoidance of double taxation on income and the prevention of tax evasion.
Ninth:
Authorizing the minister of transport and chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, or a deputy, to sign a draft agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Suriname in the field of air transport services.
Tenth:
Authorizing the president of the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, or a deputy, to discuss and sign with the Federal Integrity Commission of the Republic of Iraq a draft memorandum of understanding to prevent and combat corruption.
Eleventh:
Approving a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi General Court of Audit and the National Audit Office of the People's Republic of China for cooperation in the field of accounting, supervisory, and professional work.