The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session held on Tuesday afternoon at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet addressed the recent talks and discussions that took place between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a number of countries, including the phone call HRH the Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister received from President of the Republic of France, during which they reiterated the strategic bilateral relations, and reviewed the regional and global developments as well as efforts exerted regarding them. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet touched upon the outcomes of the meeting of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee between the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the United States Defense Department, and the third session of the Saudi-Algerian Political Consultation Committee, as they highlighted consensus on strengthening cooperation and coordination in everything that contributes to laying the foundations of security and stability regionally and globally. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's speech during the Global Food Security Ministerial Meeting. Saudi Arabia affirmed that its foreign policy places great attention to providing circumstances supporting development and realizing the aspirations of people in receiving a bright future, whether in the Middle East or the entire world. This includes its qualitative initiatives to face environmental challenges, and humanitarian efforts to support the developing and neediest countries to enhance their food security and reduce hunger and poverty. The Cabinet at the local level addressed a number of reports on indicators of the national economy, the results of the State's General Budget, and the performance of public agencies during the first quarter of the fiscal year 2022. The Cabinet in this regard reiterated determination to continue implementing economic initiatives and reforms to achieve the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030. The Cabinet was briefed on a number of issues on its agenda and issued the following decisions: First: Approving a memorandum of understanding regarding the establishment of a strategic partnership council between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Second: Authorizing the Minister of Foreign Affairs – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Colombian side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Columbia, sign it and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures. Third: Authorizing the Minister of Foreign Affairs – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Sierra Leone side regarding a draft general cooperation agreement and a draft memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Sierra Leone, sign them and refer the final signed copies to proceed with formal procedures. Fourth: Authorizing the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance – or a deputy – to hold talks with Côte d'Ivoire regarding a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of Islamic affairs between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Interior and Security in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, sign it and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures. Fifth: Authorizing the Minister of Investment – or a deputy – to hold talks with Ghana regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of Ghana for cooperation in stimulating direct investment, sign it and refer the final signed copy to proceed with formal procedures. Sixth: Approving a draft memorandum of understanding between the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Singaporean Customs on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs issues. Seventh: Approving a draft memorandum of understanding between the General Authority for Awqaf in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Islamic Development Bank for cooperation in the Awqaf field. Eighth: Appointing Dr. Badr bin Ibrahim bin Saidan, Ajlan bin Abdulaziz Al-Ajlan, and Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Sibai as members of the private sector concerned with the activity at the board of directors of the Real Estate General Authority. Ninth: Approving the financial technology strategy. Tenth: Adding a paragraph holding No. (4) to the Cabinet decision No, (51) dated Muharram 1, 1441H, with the following text: "4-The General Court of Audit – in coordination with the Ministry of Finance – shall prepare a unified coding and classifying guideline for the types of reserves at government institutions, modernize and circulate it to institutions included under its supervision, and following up on its adherence in a way that ensures harmony and integration with the standard coding and classifying of products and services of the UN". Eleventh: Approving promotions for the (15th) and (14th) ranks. The Cabinet also reviewed a number of general topics on its agenda and took the necessary measures regarding these topics.
