RIYADH: (Arab News) The Cabinet on Tuesday approved memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Ukraine, for investment cooperation in agriculture, and with Sudan, for cooperation in communications and information technology.
King Salman chaired the Cabinet at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.
Royal decrees have been prepared for both MoUs.
The king briefed the Cabinet on his telephone calls with President Michel Temer of Brazil, President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, and Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, and on his meetings with the chairman of NATO Partnerships Sub-committee, Mateen Lutfi, and the president of the Pontifical Council for Interfaith Dialogue in the Vatican State, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran.
The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of the suicide attack west of the Afghan capital Kabul, offering its condolences to the families of the victims and the government and people of Afghanistan. It wished a speedy recovery to the wounded, renewing the Kingdom’s stand with Afghanistan against terrorism and extremism.
On local affairs, the Cabinet confirmed that the king would inaugurate Al-Qiddiya Project on Saturday. It is the new entertainment, sports and cultural destination to be built west of Riyadh. Al-Qiddiya embodies the Kingdom’s aspirations and ongoing efforts to develop gigantic projects in line with Vision 2030.
The Cabinet also extended its thanks and appreciation to the king for honoring the winners of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Award for Inventors and the Talented at its fourth session. This, said Minister of Culture and Information Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, reflects the Kingdom’s interest in giftedness and innovation as well as the importance of honoring talents and abilities in recognition of their achievements and the development of the spirit of creativity and innovation.
The Cabinet also commended the positive results in the performance indicators of the security agencies of the Ministry of Interior over the past year, which showed outstanding achievements and a significant decrease in crime rates and rise in the level of safety.