Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Chairs Cabinet's Virtual Session

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired here the Cabinet's virtual session.
At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the contents of the message he sent to Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Deputy Emir and Crown Prince of the sisterly State of Kuwait, emphasising ways of strengthening fraternal relations between the two countries in various fields.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also briefed the Cabinet on the contents of his phone calls with each of President Donald Trump of the United States of America, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in the context of following up the duties of the G20 chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this year, affirming the Kingdom’s proceeding with the presidency of G20 in supporting and coordinating the efforts of the group to confront the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic at the human and economic levels, as well as achieving stability and balance of the oil market, and working in the interest of the people of the world, and support of economies and health systems. The monarch also affirmed the Kingdom's keenness to reach a permanent and just solution to the Palestinian cause to bring about peace.
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Acting Minister of Media, stated that the Cabinet, then, reviewed a number of reports related to the COVID-19 pandemic locally and internationally; its developments in the preventive and treatment levels; the latest statistics on cases recorded in the Kingdom; and the positive contribution of the measures taken by the concerned authorities to curb the spread of the virus. The reports cited the continuing curve decline in terms of infections index, the increase in the rate of recovery cases, and to the commitment of citizens and residents to precautionary and preventive measures, in addition to expanding the scope of laboratory tests that included more than five million people so far.
 

The Cabinet reviewed a number of issues about the latest developments regionally and internationally, including what was confirmed by the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Extraordinary Virtual Meeting, held under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the importance of strengthening international cooperation to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic impacts, raising the level of preparedness for future crises and the importance of opening international borders in line with health measures and national regulations of countries in order to achieve economic prosperity for the G20 countries and people.
The Cabinet also discussed the positive indicators recorded for the Saudi economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, of the growth of foreign investments for the first quarter in various sectors and economic activities by 20%, and the recovery of economic activity at the end of the second quarter coinciding with the reopening of activities, which confirms the strength of the investment environment in the Kingdom and it's safety for the investor, and the contribution of the programs and initiatives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 in facing the consequences of the pandemic out of strength, according to a plan aimed at diversifying the economy and intensive investment in technology, in addition to ensuring that development plans are not affected by fluctuations in oil markets and promoting the role of the private sector.
Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi stated that the Cabinet praised the security efforts in tracking criminal schemes which try to target the Kingdom with narcotic substances and their perpetrators and arrest them in coordination and cooperation among the concerned authorities, the last of which was the thwarted plan to smuggle (16,343,000) amphetamine pills.
The Cabinet renewed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist attack that targeted two security men in the Republic of Tunisia, expressing the Kingdom's full solidarity with Tunisia in confronting any attempt to target its security and stability, and sincere condolences and sympathies to the sisterly Republic of Tunisia, the government and people.
The Cabinet was briefed on the issues on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shura Council. The Cabinet was also briefed on the results reached by each of; the Council of Political and Security Affairs the Council of Economic and Development Affairs; the General Committee of the Cabinet; and the Commission of Experts.
The Cabinet issued the following decisions:

First:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior, or his deputy, to discuss and sign with the Cyprus side a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of crime fighting between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.
Second:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Interior, or his deputy, to discuss and sign with the Ukrainian side a draft agreement on the extradition of wanted persons between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Ukraine, and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.
Third:
The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Culture, or his deputy, to discuss and sign with the Italian side a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of antiquities, museums and urban heritage between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The municipality of Rome, the capital of the Republic of Italy, and submit the final version to complete formal procedures.
Forth:
The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation.
Fifth:
A draft agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the World Tourism Organization to establish a regional office for the organization in Riyadh.

Sixth:

The Cabinet authorized Minister of Economy and Planning, or his deputy, to discuss and sign a draft agreement on economic cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Latvia and submit the final signed version to complete the formal procedures.

Seventh:

The addition of a paragraph to Article (16) of Individuals Service Regulation's Implementing Regulation, Issued by Cabinet Resolution No. (324) dated 3/16/1397 AH.

Eighth:

The Cabinet approved the rules of work and functions of the supervisory committees of the privatization targeted sectors.

Ninth:

The Ministry of Tourism shall communicate with the World Tourism Organization to take all necessary steps to prepare the necessary regulatory requirements for the international academy specialized in the training and development of capabilities of tourism sector workers.

Tenth:

The Cabinet approved the state's final account of the fiscal year 1439 / 1438 H.

Eleventh: The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at the ranks of (14 and 15).
The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations towards them.