The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace here on Tuesday afternoon, praised the announcement of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on the masterplan for King Salman International Airport. It reiterated that the King Salman International Airport will boost Riyadh's position as a global logistics hub, stimulate transport, trade and tourism, and act as a bridge linking the East with the West, while contributing to Saudi Arabia's vision to transform Riyadh to be among the top ten city economies in the world. At the outset of the session, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the content of the letter he sent to the Emir of the State of Kuwait and the letter he received from the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, relating to the relations that bind Saudi Arabia with the two countries and ways to support and enhance them in various fields. The Cabinet addressed all recent meetings and talks that took place between Saudi officials and their counterparts in a number of countries with the aim of advancing joint relations to broader horizons and strengthening cooperation with the international community and its bodies and organizations in all that would contribute to achieving development, prosperity and peace worldwide. The Cabinet, in this regard, renewed what Saudi Arabia affirmed during its participation in the 9th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, held in the city of Fez, the Kingdom of Morocco. The Cabinet affirmed Saudi Arabia's firm support for efforts spreading the culture of dialogue and building bridges of communication between different cultures, and its interest in promoting harmony and coexistence among peoples for a world where security and stability prevail. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of State, Cabinet's Member for Shoura Council Affairs and Acting Minister of Media Dr. Essam Bin Saad Bin Saeed said that the Cabinet considers the election of Saudi Arabia as Chairman of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) a translation of its influential role in the multilateral international action. It also considers it as a recognition that Saudi Arabia enjoys at the global level in this field with its contributions and initiatives aimed at developing a global, sustainable and comprehensive tourism sector. The Cabinet, at the local level, affirmed the keenness and attention the state attaches to the comprehensive development of all regions and cities of Saudi Arabia including work to improve the quality of life, basic services and infrastructure, increase their contribution to the gross domestic product through developing economic and tourism activities, provide more job opportunities for citizens, and maximize the use of their comparative and investment advantages in accordance with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 programs. The Cabinet reviewed performance indicators of the Saudi economy during the third quarter of 2022 and the 13.1% increase in non-oil exports compared to the same period last year, in addition to the efforts and initiatives that would enhance the competitiveness of the local product in the regional and international markets. The Cabinet authorized the Chairman of the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission in Saudi Arabia to hold talks with the Czech side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding on exchanging information and technical cooperation related to nuclear regulation between the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission in Saudi Arabia and the State Office for Nuclear Safety in the Czech Republic. It approved a draft memorandum of understanding to protect data and information exchanged in joint security projects between the Ministry of Interior in Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Interior in the United Arab Emirates. It authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs to hold talks with the Dominican side regarding a draft general agreement on cooperation between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Dominican Republic. The Cabinet approved the establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, and authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs to sign a relevant protocol. It approved the elevation of the level of chairmanship of the Saudi-Argentine Joint Committee to the level of minister to be headed by the minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture. It authorized the minister of Transport and Logistic Services and chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation to sign a draft agreement of air services between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of Chile. The Cabinet authorized the chairman of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission to hold talks with the Kuwaiti side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the Education and Training Evaluation Commission in Saudi Arabia and the National Bureau for Academic Accreditation and Education Quality Assurance in Kuwait. It has also established a center to be named (the national center for transport safety) according to its regulations. The Cabinet approved to extend the contract of the Saudi Public Transport Company from Feb. 3, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2023, or until the completion of operation in all regions according to the new contracts (whichever comes first). The Cabinet renewed the membership of Abdulrahman Bin Mohammed Ramzi Adas, Munir Bin Fahd Al-Sahli and Dr. Mohammed Bin Faraj Al-Zahrani — as specialists and experienced members at the Environment Fund — as members of the fund's Board of Directors. — SPA
