RIYADH — The Saudi Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday, reiterated its concern over the extremist Israeli statements about imposing sovereignty over the West Bank, and the construction and expansion of settlements. "These Israeli actions undermine peace efforts, threaten the region's security and stability, and represent a blatant violation of international laws and relevant UN resolutions," the Cabinet said. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet strongly condemned the continued targeting of Palestinian civilians and relief and humanitarian agencies by the Israeli occupation forces, and called on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities vis-à-vis the continuous aggression faced by the Palestinian people. At the outset of the session, the Council was briefed on the content of the phone calls that Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman had with Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron. It also reviewed the talks held by senior Saudi officials with their counterparts from different countries, at bilateral and multilateral levels, with the aim of strengthening ties, intensifying efforts to open up new horizons in various fields and achieve aspired goals, and bolstering efforts exerted to tackle global challenges. The Cabinet also tackled the outcome of the second meeting of the Saudi-French Ministerial Committee, and the efforts to strengthen cultural, tourism, and economic partnerships between AlUla and Paris, in view of the special relations between the two friendly countries and their commitment to developing ties in all sectors. Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet commended the outcome of the second meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Political, Security, Social, and Cultural Cooperation, established under the Saudi-India Strategic Partnership Council, which underscored the importance of coordination and cooperation on issues of common interest, particularly those related to economic development and international security and peace. On the domestic front, the Cabinet commended the support lent by King Salman to the current Riyadh Economic Forum, saying that the recommendations of the 11th session of the forum can be expected to give further impetus to the national economy and bolster the private sector's role in the Kingdom's comprehensive development. The Cabinet recognized the success of the "Cityscape Global 2024" exhibition held in Riyadh, which aligns with national goals and offers promising prospects to the real estate sector. The value of the transactions concluded at the exhibition surpassed SR230 billion, with sales from local and international developers exceeding SR20 billion. The exhibition attracted over 172,000 visitors, underscoring the success of the Kingdom's endeavor to position itself as a global hub for exhibitions and conferences. The Cabinet hailed the outcomes of the "Jeddah Declaration", issued during the Fourth High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, commending the initiatives and mechanisms that bolster the global commitment to a multifaceted approach in tackling global health challenges and seeking solutions through research, development, and innovation. The Cabinet noted that the Fourth Edition of the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, to be held on December 3-4, 2024, will be geared toward expediting endeavors aimed at fostering a more sustainable future. The initiative has had concrete positive effects on climate and environmental initiatives, helping boost the total capacity of renewable energy sources to over four gigawatts, planting about 95 million trees, and translocating 1,660 endangered animals across the Kingdom. The Cabinet took a number of decisions, including approval of the organizational arrangements of the Presidency for Religious Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. It endorsed the minutes of the meeting that discussed the formation of the Saudi-Egyptian Supreme Coordination Council, and a headquarters agreement between the Saudi government and the International Camel Organization. The Cabinet authorized the minister of justice or his deputy to discuss and sign with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU). It approved a draft declaration of intent for cooperation in the field of critical minerals between the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, and authorizing the minister of industry and mineral resources or his deputy to discuss this issue with the French side. The Cabinet approved a MoU for cooperation in the logistics sector between the Saudi Ministry of Transport and Logistic and the Romanian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and another MoU for cooperation in promoting direct investment between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Benin. It also approved a MoU for cooperation between the Saudi General Court of Audit and the Accounts Chamber of the Kyrgyzstan in the field of accounting, auditing and professional work.
