Riyadh, December 25, 2024 – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud presided over the Cabinet session held in Riyadh today, where the government reviewed key developments both domestically and internationally. During the session, the Cabinet was briefed on the recent meeting between His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, and Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani. The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations, alongside addressing critical regional developments, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering peace and cooperation in the Middle East.
The Cabinet session also covered the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to enhance its cooperation with countries and international organizations globally. The leadership emphasized the importance of Saudi Arabia's initiatives aimed at promoting regional and international security, stability, and development. The Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom's significant contributions to resolving Arab issues and fostering greater unity across the region.
A key highlight of the meeting was the Cabinet’s warm welcome of a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly that calls for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice regarding Israel’s obligations concerning the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations, and third states. The Kingdom expressed its appreciation for the countries that supported the resolution, notably acknowledging Norway's leadership in submitting it, in partnership with Saudi Arabia. This resolution reflects Saudi Arabia’s active diplomatic role in advocating for justice and international law on global platforms.
In addition to international matters, the Cabinet also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s position on the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom’s call, made at the third consultative meeting of multilateral organizations sponsoring peace initiatives in Sudan, for an immediate end to the conflict and increased efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Sudanese citizens. The Kingdom emphasized the importance of establishing a peaceful and political future for Sudan, ensuring its sovereignty, unity, and long-term stability.
The Cabinet took time to commend the inaugural session of the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, an initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia. The establishment of this council reflects the Kingdom's commitment to safeguarding the digital security of Arab nations and fostering a unified approach to cybersecurity challenges. This council is an essential step in bolstering regional security and facilitating coordinated efforts across the Arab world.
Domestically, the Cabinet acknowledged the impressive progress made by various government agencies in the Digital Transformation Index for 2024. This progress highlights Saudi Arabia's dedication to enhancing public services, improving the quality of life for citizens, residents, and visitors, and facilitating business operations. These efforts are aimed at increasing the Kingdom’s competitiveness and achieving top rankings in international indicators.
Moreover, the Cabinet celebrated the success of recent economic, cultural, and media conferences and events held in Riyadh, which solidified the city’s status as a global hub for innovation, knowledge, and investment. This success underscores the Kingdom’s remarkable growth in multiple sectors and its ongoing transformation into a global leader in various fields.
Following the discussions, the Cabinet issued several significant decisions, including:
1. Civil Defense Cooperation: Authorization for the Minister of Interior, or their deputy, to discuss and sign memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with the governments of Tajikistan and Pakistan on cooperation in civil defense and protection.
2. Saudi-Spanish Cooperation: Approval of a draft MOU to establish the Saudi-Spanish Coordination Council. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was authorized to sign the agreement and coordinate with the Spanish side to enhance cooperation across various fields.
3. Cultural Collaboration with Kuwait: Approval of an MOU for cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters of Kuwait.
4. Water Resources Cooperation with Iraq: Authorization for the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture to discuss and sign a draft MOU with the Ministry of Water Resources of Iraq focusing on water resource management.
5. Labor Cooperation with ILO: Authorization for the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development to sign a framework cooperation agreement with the International Labour Organization (ILO) concerning programs for junior technical staff and secondment.
6. Intellectual Property Cooperation: Approval of an MOU between Umm Al-Qura University, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
7. Desertification Cooperation with China: Authorization for the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture to discuss and sign an MOU with the Gansu Desert Control Research Institute of China in the field of desertification.
8. Arabic Language Cooperation with Uzbekistan: Approval of an MOU for cooperation in Arabic language services between the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language and Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies in Uzbekistan.
These decisions reinforce Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening its international partnerships, advancing its domestic development initiatives, and contributing to regional and global efforts on security, development, and cultural exchange.
