Jeddah: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held virtually today. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques received assurances that preparations and arrangements for this year's Hajj season are complete, and was briefed on the efforts, capabilities, and projects carried out by various government agencies to increase the comfort and well-being of pilgrims. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed the pride of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its leadership, and its people in serving the two holy mosques and their visitors, and implored Allah Almighty to grant pilgrims successful Hajj, and to accept their prayers and good deeds. The Cabinet was informed of the content of the messages received by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques from the king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the president of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and of the message received by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister from the president of the Federal Republic of Somal ia. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dossary said the Cabinet welcomed the outcome of the second Saudi-Kuwaiti Coordination Council meeting, which underscored the strong fraternal ties between the two nations and their commitment to deepening cooperation in all sectors to serve mutual interests, and strengthen regional and international coordination. The Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom's participation in recent meetings of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab League. It expressed hope for further progress in joint endeavors and broader collaboration in the framework of existing fraternal relations and longstanding historical ties. The Cabinet commended the outcome of the 37th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting. It said that the Kingdom's and seven other members' decision to extend the voluntary production cuts agreed upon in Riyadh aligns with the OPEC+ countries' ongoing efforts to maintain stability and balance in the global oil market. At the same time, the Cabinet said Saudi Arabia's marking the World Environment Day, which falls on June 5, is testament to the Kingdom's leading role - locally, regionally, and internationally - in environmental efforts and promoting sustainable development. The Cabinet reviewed recent developments in regional and international affairs, and ongoing efforts to address them. It reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to supporting international efforts aimed at achieving regional security and stability, and emphasized the Kingdom's dedication to fostering a more developed and prosperous world for all. Domestically, the Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom's recent economic performance, highlighting the continued growth in non-oil activities. It noted the stabilization of the annual inflation rate at 1.6%, which remains below the global target. Positive credit rating estimates were also acknowledged. The Cabinet tackled other items on its agenda and issued several decisions, among which the following: Firs t: Authorizing the minister of energy, or a deputy, to discuss and sign with the Venezuelan side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of energy. Second: Approving a memorandum of understanding regarding political consultations between the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. Third: Approving an agreement between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Kosovo regarding mutual exemption from short-term residence visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, official, and special passports. Fourth: Authorizing the minister of culture, or a deputy, to discuss and sign with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Arts of the Republic of Benin a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field. Fifth: Approving a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Tunisia to protect the environment. Sixth: Approving a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Safety Council of Spain to exchange of information in the field of nuclear safety and radiation protection. Seventh: Approving an agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Dominican Republic in the field of air transport services. Eighth: Authorizing the minister of industry and mineral resources and chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Export Development Authority, or a deputy, to discuss and sign with the Kuwaiti side a draft memorandum of understanding to boost exports. Ninth: Approving a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Republic of Korea for cooperation in the field of copyrights and related rights. Tenth: Approving a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Institute of Public Admini stration and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council regarding training and administrative development. Source: Saudi Press Agency
