King Salman chairs Cabinet virtual session from Riyadh hospital

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman chaired, on July 21, the Cabinet's virtual session from King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Cabinet followed up on the arrangements of the relevant government agencies taking part in Hajj activities to implement security, preventive, organizational and service plans, in accordance to a high-level integrated work system aimed at enabling pilgrims to easily perform the ritual in a safe healthy manner.

This is in-line with the best level of services and facilities as well as the highest standards for maintaining their safety from the implications and impacts of COVID-19 and ways to protect them.

The Cabinet reviewed a number of reports related to the pandemic and its developments at the preventive and therapeutic levels, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, said in a statement.

The Cabinet also reviewed the latest statistics of cases recorded in the Kingdom as well as the health care provided to them in light of the stability of critical cases and infections in addition to the increase of the recovered cases.

Al-Qasabi stressed on the importance of continuing to monitor and follow-up all developments and expand the tests in various regions via the specialized laboratories in line with the highest quality.

Outcome of the third session of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council in Riyadh were reviewed as well. It resulted in exploring opportunities for cooperation in all fields, developing strategic partnership, opening new horizons of cooperation in the economic and development fields, deepening them at the international and regional affairs, and protecting the common interests, which came as an extension of efforts to strengthen relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

During the session, the cabinet pointed out the progress made by the Kingdom in the global ranking of the index of digital infrastructure for communications and information technology issued by the United Nations to measure the development of e-government.

Saudi Arabia achieved 27th position globally and 8th among the G20 member states, affirming the efforts of a number of government sectors that participate in building a new present worthy of the Kingdom's status and its aspirations to be a global pioneer of Vision 2030.

Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi indicated that the cabinet considered the Kingdom’s declaration, in cooperation with Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC), of designating six targets providing facilitation and financial support to the (ISIL), to disrupt terrorist organizations’ funds and undermine their ability to conceal activities and finance their operations as well as to share

financial intelligence information and build the capacity of member states to target activities that pose a threat to the national security.

The cabinet touched on what the UN Security Council took regarding the oil tanker (Safer) anchored in Ras Issa port in Yemen since several years ago, with an increased risk of its decomposition or explosion, and the occurrence of an environmental, economic and humanitarian catastrophe for Yemen and neighboring countries.

The Cabinet called upon the Security Council to declare strong and decisive measures as well as to eliminate the threat posed by the tanker.

The Cabinet reviewed the topics on its agenda and concluded the following:

-Authorized the Minister of Energy - or his deputy- to discuss and sign with the Pakistani side a draft agreement between the two countries in the field of liquefied natural gas.

-Authorization of the Minister of Interior - or his deputy- to negotiate with the Benin side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of civil protection and civil defense, sign it and then submit the final signed copy to complete the regular procedures.

-Authorization of the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance - or his deputy- to negotiate with the UAE side a draft MoU in the field of Islamic affairs between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance in Saudi Arabia and the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments in the UAE, sign it and then submit the final signed copy to complete the regular procedures.

-Approval of a memorandum of cooperation in the field of intellectual property between the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and the Japanese Patent Office in Japan.

-Authorization of the Minister of Foreign Affairs - or his deputy- to negotiate with the Federation of Arab Banks a draft headquarters agreement between the government and the Union of Arab Banks regarding the union’s regional office, sign it and then submit the final signed copy to complete the regular procedures.

-Authorization of the Minister of Communications and Information Technology - or his deputy- to negotiate and take the necessary steps regarding the approval of the draft charter for the establishment of the digital cooperation organization, and to submit result to complete the regulatory procedures.

-Approval of a MoU for cooperation in the fields of communications and information technology between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in Egypt.

-The Cabinet approved a protocol to amend paragraph (A) of Article (50) of Chicago International Civil Aviation Convention, aiming to increase in members of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to (40) members, and a protocol to amend Article (56) of the convention to increase the number of members the Air Navigation Committee to (21) members.

-The Cabinet approved a MoU for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the field of space activities for peaceful purposes.

-The Cabinet approved a MoU between Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) of Bahrain for cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical, devices, supplies, medical products and clinical studies.

-The Cabinet approved a MoU for cooperation in the field of combating human trafficking between the Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). - The Cabinet approved to amending a paragraph (1) of Article (5) of King Abdulaziz Foundation’s structure for endowment libraries issued by Cabinet’s Resolution No. (389) to make the Minister of Culture as a deputy chairman of the Board of Trustees.

-The Cabinet approved the organizational arrangements for the rural development and sustainable agriculture program. - The Cabinet approved to amend 3rd paragraph of the Cabinet’s Resolution no. (39).

-The Cabinet approved that the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs is responsible for the implemented and future roads within the urban range and the Ministry of Transport is responsible of the implemented and future roads outside the urban range. - The Cabinet approved a number of promotions at 14th and 15th ranks.

The Cabinet was also briefed on a number of issues on its agenda, including two annual reports of Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization and Real Estate Development Fund. In this regard, the Cabinet took relevant recommendations.