The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Prime Minister, chaired today 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 written message he sent to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The message stressed the depth of historical relations binding the two countries, and emphasized the Kingdom's keenness on enhancing strategic cooperation between the two countries at various levels in addition to consolidating joint work and coordination on various regional and international issues. The Cabinet addressed latest developments on regional and international levels, citing the contents of the message addressed by the Kingdom's permanent delegation to the United Nations to the Security Council, calling for denouncing the cowardly terrorist attack carried by the Iran-backed Houthi militia targeting Abha International Airport and their military hostile actions aiming to undermine peace in Yemen. The message also called for the stoppage of the Houthi militia threats to international peace and security and holding them accountable, confirming, in this regard, that the Kingdom will take all necessary measures to preserve its territories and safety of its citizens and residents on its territories as per its commitments to the international laws. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet renewed the Kingdom's support for the peaceful efforts to establish security and stability in the regions of the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. The Cabinet also pointed out to the Kingdom's affirmation, before Philia Forum, Building Friendship, Peace and Prosperity from the Mediterranean to the Gulf, on the importance of intensifying consultations and coordination to safeguard peace and security in international sea lanes, in a manner that guarantees freedom of trade and navigation, respects the principles of sovereignty and good neighborliness between states, and condemns any external interference in the internal affairs of states, including threatening international peace and security and global economic stability. The Cabinet expressed the Kingdom's strong condemnation and denunciation of the cowardly terrorist attacks that targeted Erbil International Airport, and fully stand with the Republic of Iraq in all its measures to preserve its security and support its efforts in fighting terrorist organizations that seek to undermine its stability and influence its sovereignty. The Cabinet reviewed the developments of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), a set of reports on the latest virus statistics in the Kingdom and the relevant indicators. The Cabinet also reviewed the efforts made to return infection curves to desired directions, with continued emphasis on adhering to the precautionary and preventive measures and following up their implementation, to maintain the public health of the community and to achieve control over the epidemiological situation. 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 Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the General Committee of the Cabinet, and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts. The Cabinet issued the following decisions: First: The Cabinet Authorized Minister of Investment - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft of memorandum of understanding in the field of encouraging direct investment, between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and government of the State of Kuwait. Second: The Cabinet Authorized Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Competition - or his representative - to discuss and sign a draft of memorandum of understanding in the field of promotion of competition and combating monopolistic practices, between the General Authority for Competition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Egyptian Competition Authority of the Republic of Egypt. Third: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. Forth: The Cabinet approved national policy for radioactive waste management in the Kingdom. Fifth: Transformation of the Regulations Agency of the Ministry of Finance into an independent center named the National Centre for State Resource Systems. Sixth: Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in coordination with the Executive Council of the Consumer Protection Association, to take necessary steps to align the conditions of the Association in accordance with the provisions of associations and civil institutions regulations. Seventh: Revoking Saudi Railways Organization and its regulations issued by Royal Decree No. M/3 dated 22/1/1386 AH, statring from 1/4/2021, and to be replaced by the Saudi Railway Company (SAR). Eighth: Approval of the establishment of Small and Medium Enterprises Bank. Ninth: Approval of the medical devices and supplies system. Tenth: The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at the 14th and 15th ranks. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and took relevant recommendations.
