Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz briefed the Council of Ministers on the phone call he received from US President Donald Trump yesterday and their discussions on the historical ties between the Kingdom and U.S and the latest developments in the region and the world. King Salman, who chaired the Council's regular weekly meeting here today, told the Cabinet that his discussions with the US President also covered the strategic partnership between Riyadh and Washington. They stressed on the importance of improving bilateral economic, security and military cooperation, with emphasis on the deep-rooted strategic relations between the two countries. King Salman told the Council that both held identical views on several topics, such as terrorism and extremism and the ways to combat them, the importance of establishing an adequate mechanism to confront those who seek to undermine security and stability in the region and interfere in the internal affairs of other states, and the need for safe zones in Syria. King Salman also briefed the Council on his talks with Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, President of the Sudan. They reviewed the fraternal relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them in all fields. They also discussed the latest regional and international developments. The briefing also referred to a message to the King from President Francois Hollande of France and his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia Rasim Ljajic and Deputy Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mirko Harkovic, who are currently leading a joint economic delegation to the Kingdom. Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel Al-Toraifi told SPA that the Council reviewed a number of local issues, praised the achievements of the brave security men in the various security sectors and appreciated their efforts in the fight against terrorism. He referred to the investigations made by the security authorities after the raid on two terrorist hideouts that confirmed the seriousness of the terror cell in Jeddah. Dr. Al-Toraifi expressed his appreciation to the security men for their efforts, sacrifices and heroism in the war against terrorist organizations which targeted the security and stability of the Kingdom, its resources, youth, citizens and expatriates. The Council praised the King for the attention paid to the development of military capabilities of the Kingdom. It noted his patronage of the 50th anniversary celebration of the King Faisal Air Academy's and the induction of a new aircraft, F15SA in the Royal Saudi Air Force fleet.
