Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad has paid a visit to the headquarters of Saudi Journalists Association (SJA) here during which he met with the Association's Chairman of the Board of Directors and the editors in chief of local newspapers. At the outset of the meeting, the Chairman of the SJA Board of Directors Khalid Al-Malik delivered a speech in which he congratulated on behalf of the members of the Board and the editors in chief of the local newspapers Dr. Alawwad on the occasion of the issuing of the Royal Decree appointing him as Minister of Culture and Information, expressing his thanks and appreciation to the Minister for his attendance and meeting with the editors in chief of local newspapers. On his part, the Minister of Culture and Information expressed in a speech his happiness to visit the Saudi Journalists Association and meet with the editors in chief of the local newspapers, commending the continuous development being witnessed by the Association and its efforts exerted to serve the journalistic action in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He said, "The press is a major and strategic partner in the national action system through its materials that reflect the distinguished reputation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, welcoming working with the spirit of one team and constructive criticism within the framework of the responsible freedom to contribute to supporting the country's march and promoting its status. Minister Dr. Alawwad was briefed on the Association and its activities and discussed with the editors in chief in an open dialogue the constraints of the press action and how to improve it in order to enhance the Kingdom's status and broadcast its voice in transparency to the world within the framework of its abundant resources under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the support of the Crown Prince and the Deputy Crown Prince, and the emphasis on enhancing the media's professional performance and sensing the responsibility entrusted to it in its various means. He also stressed the importance of the role of the local press in the service of the society and the national development strategy that has nowadays made our country undergoes a qualitative transformation stage with the launch of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 resulting in fruitful national programs such as the National Transformation Program 2020 which is considered a unique step in upgrading the national economy.
