The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, chaired the Cabinet meeting held today in the capital, Riyadh, which witnessed the issuance of a package of important decisions that affect local and international affairs, in addition to reviewing the latest political and humanitarian developments in the region.
Diplomatic activity and follow-up on regional issues
At the beginning of the session, the Council was briefed on the active diplomatic efforts led by the Kingdom, and was informed of the contents of the telephone calls received by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, from leaders of brotherly and friendly countries, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
These contacts reflect the pivotal role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a pillar of stability in the Middle East and the Islamic world, where strengthening bilateral relations was discussed and the rapid developments on the regional and international arenas were addressed, confirming the Kingdom’s continued approach of promoting solidarity and joint action to confront current challenges.
Supporting the stability of Yemen and Gaza: Firm Saudi principles
In the context of regional issues, the Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom's unwavering support for the security and stability of the Republic of Yemen. The Cabinet welcomed the request by the Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council to convene a comprehensive conference in Riyadh for southern factions, a step aimed at unifying ranks and supporting the comprehensive political solution.
On the humanitarian front, the Council reviewed the ongoing relief efforts for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Minister of Information Salman Al-Dossari affirmed that the air, sea, and land bridges established by the Kingdom are a continuation of its historical role in supporting Arab causes, emphasizing that Palestine remains a central issue in the hearts and minds of the Saudi leadership and people.
Digital leadership and Vision 2030
Domestically, the Cabinet commended the Kingdom's significant strides in the technology sector, praising the launch of the government data center project (Hexagon) in Riyadh. This project represents a strategic step towards strengthening national data sovereignty and empowering the digital economy, directly contributing to the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to build a diversified and sustainable economy based on innovation and artificial intelligence.
Council Resolutions: Regulating Cultural and Educational Work
The Council issued a number of resolutions and agreements, most notably approving the establishment of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science . This step is of paramount importance as this commission represents the essential link between the Kingdom and major international organizations such as UNESCO, ALECSO, and ISESCO, which will contribute to strengthening the Kingdom's global cultural and scientific presence and developing institutional work mechanisms in these vital sectors.
The council's decisions also included the following:
- Approval of a headquarters agreement with the Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education.
- Signing of Memoranda of Understanding in the fields of environment and agriculture with the Netherlands, and tourism with both Trinidad and Tobago and China.
- Strengthening cooperation in earth sciences with Kazakhstan, and protecting competition with the Sultanate of Oman.
- A security agreement to combat terrorism and its financing with Zambia.
- Environmental cooperation and vegetation development with the Kingdom of Morocco.
- Approval of the rules of operation for the National Minerals Program, and renewal of the National Program for the Development of the Information Technology Sector until 2030.
