Saudi Arabia to become Shanghai Cooperation Organization dialogue partner: Cabinet

Jeddah, The Gulf Observer: The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam Palace here on Tuesday, approved a memorandum on granting Saudi Arabia the status of a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

It approved the cooperation agreement between the Presidency of State Security in the Kingdom and the Research and Analysis Wing (R & AW) in India in the field of combating terrorist crimes and its financing.

The Cabinet also approved applying the administrative organization of the governorates (Jeddah, Taif, and Al-Ahsa), issued by article (First) of the Cabinet’s Resolution No. (187) dated 5/9/1435 AH — to the governorates of (Qatif, Khamis Mushait, Khobar, Jubail, Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Kharj, and Yanbu ).

It amended article (Fourth) of the provisions regulating the National Tobacco Control Committee to be as follows: “The committee shall have a secretariat based in the Public Health Authority in Riyadh.”

It also amended a number of articles regulating the Human Rights Commission, issued by the Cabinet’s Resolution No. (207) dated 8/8/1426 AH.

At the beginning of the session, the Cabinet reviewed the details of telephone conversations between the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman and the president of the Republic of France, the prime minister of the Republic of Iraq and the president of the People’s Republic of China.

The discussions centered around relations, areas of partnership, and opportunities to strengthen cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Media Salman Bin Yousef Al-Dosari said that the Cabinet also reviewed the outcomes of the 155th Session of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and discussed the developments in joint Gulf action and political issues in the regional and international arenas.

The Cabinet reviewed the world’s developments, condemning the attempts to burn copies of the Holy Qur’an. The Cabinet stressed the need to consolidate the values of dialogue, tolerance, and respect and reject everything that spreads hatred and extremism.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of energy, chairman of the board of directors of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy to discuss and sign with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) a draft agreement between King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy and the International Atomic Energy Agency regarding the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Program.

It approved the Kingdom’s accession to the International Coffee Agreement. It also approved a headquarters agreement between Saudi Arabia’s government and the International Dates Council.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of culture to discuss and sign with the Senegalese and Argentine sides regarding two draft memorandums of understanding for cooperation in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage of Senegal, and the Ministry of Culture of Argentina.

It authorized the minister of Islamic affairs, dawah and guidance to discuss and sign with the Turkish side a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance of Saudi Arabia and the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkiye in the field of Islamic affairs.

The Cabinet approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain.

It authorized the minister of transport and logistic services, chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to sign a draft agreement between the government of Saudi Arabia and the government of UK in the field of air transport services.

The Cabinet authorized the minister of education, chairman of the board of directors of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) to discuss and sign with the Chinese side a draft memorandum of understanding in the field of technical and vocational training between the TVTC of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Commerce of China.

It authorized the president of the General Court of Audit to discuss and sign with the Chinese side a draft memorandum of understanding between the General Court of Audit of Saudi Arabia and the National Audit Office of China for cooperation in the field of accounting, oversight and professional work.