RIYADH — In a major initiative to enhance the Saudi citizens' involvement in managing community affairs and enhancing the culture of volunteerism among them, the Council of Ministers on Monday approved the law for private societies and organizations. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman chaired the weekly session of the Cabinet at Al-Yamamah Palace here. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Turaifi said the Cabinet approved the new law on the basis of a report presented by the Ministry of Social Affairs and following the approval of the draft law by the Shoura Council earlier. The law gives a legal framework for the activities and functioning of private societies and organizations, with specific provisions for the creation, administration and supervision of such bodies. "The new law aims at regulating, promoting and safeguarding the activities of private bodies, and strengthening the contribution of citizens in managing the community, in addition to promoting the culture of voluntary work and achieving social integration," Al-Turaifi said quoting the Cabinet decision. While reaffirming the Kingdom's deep concern over the increasingly hostile, racial and inhuman rhetoric against refugees in general, and Muslim refugees in particular, the Cabinet called on countries, humanitarian agencies, civil society organizations and the media to keep away from any racist rhetoric and contribute to raising awareness and assuming responsibility to protect the displaced people and refugees fleeing from the fires, unleashed by unjust rulers and terrorist groups. The Cabinet voiced the Kingdom's condemnation over the terrorist attacks that occurred in Egypt's Al-Arish, the Libyan city of Al-Khamis, as well as on a Republican Guard's bus in Tunisia, which resulted in the killing and injuring of many people. The Council also reiterated the need to redouble international efforts to root out this dangerous scourge that targets security and stability in all parts of the world without any exception. Al-Turaifi said that the Cabinet welcomed the Kingdom's remarkable achievement in non-oil exports, which soared to SR200 billion, thanks to the support and facilities provided by the state for businessmen and national companies, resulting in high quality and competitiveness of Saudi products that helped them reach international markets. The Cabinet authorized president of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Chinese side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of renewable energy between KACARE and China's National Energy Administration. It also authorized the CEO of Saudi Food and Drug Authority or his deputy to discuss and sign with the United States a draft memorandum of understanding for scientific and technical cooperation and exchange of information between SFDA and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. The Cabinet approved the transfer of a number of jobs together with their payrolls, as well as documents and researches related to public transport, from the Ministry of Transport to the Public Transport Commission.
