The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah palace here on Monday afternoon. At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to him and the accompanying delegation during his visit to Jordan, stressing that the talks, the exchange of views with King Abdullah II on issues and subjects of common interest, the official meetings, discussions between the two sides, and signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding embody the strong fraternal ties and the desire to advance them towards wider horizons to serve the interests of the two countries and their peoples and contribute to strengthening security and stability in the region and the world. The King also expressed his appreciation to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the King, the Government and people for their great efforts exerted to ensure the success of the Arab Summit Conference at its 28th session, pointing in this context to the Summit's positive results. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques also briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meetings with leaders of Arab countries on the sidelines of the Summit, expressing his happiness over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's hosting of the Arab summit at its 29th session in the city of Riyadh, welcoming the leaders of Arab countries in their second country, the Kingdom. The King briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meeting with Vice Chairman of Central Military Commission of the Chinese Party, Air Force General Xu Qiliang. The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Adel bin Zaid Altoraifi said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) after the session that the Cabinet commended the joint statement issued following the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, its emphasis on the strong ties, keenness on their developments in various fields, their positions towards the current situations in the Arab world, the desire to unify Arab and Islamic ranks, and the great efforts of the two countries' to strengthen fraternal ties among Arab and Islamic countries. The Council also commended the positive results of the 28th Arab Summit, citing its resolutions to serve the Arab issues, stressing the importance of Amman Declaration issued at the end of the Summit reflecting the keenness of all Arab countries for joint Arab work to face the problems and challenges confronting them. The Council of Ministers lauded the statement made by the GCC Ministerial Council at the end of its meetings in Riyadh confirming the positions and decisions of the GCC countries on various issues related to the Gulf joint action process and the latest regional and international developments. The minister said the Council of Ministers condemned the declaration by the Israeli occupation authorities to establish a new settlement in the West Bank for the first time in 20 years, the construction of 2,000 new settlement units, and the seizure of 977 dunums of the occupied Palestinian territories, confirming the firm positions of the Kingdom towards the Palestinian cause, including its condemnation of all actions taken by the Israeli occupation authorities and its repeated calls to the international community to coerce Israel to cease all arbitrary and racist measures against the Palestinian people. The Council of Ministers renewed the Kingdom's condemnation of the explosion in the city of Parachinar in Pakistan, expressing condolences to the families of the victims, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and its people, wishing the injured a quick recovery. The Council of Ministers reviewed a number of topics, expressing thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his efforts and attention to the Holy Quran and his keenness on teaching, memorizing and reciting the holy book inside the Kingdom and abroad, his care for the orphans and efforts in various fields of humanitarian work, citing in this regard the King's honorary doctorate in the field of "Service of the Holy Quran and its education" awarded to him by Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University as well as the Honorary Leadership Award in the field of Orphans Care during the award ceremony for the Sanabel Award for Community Responsibility for orphan care institutions in GCC countries 2017, organized by the Sanabel Association for the care of orphans in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Cabinet lauded efforts exerted by the security men in chasing terrorist elements and anyone who tries to tamper with the Kingdom's security and its citizens and residents in its territory, citing the success of the security forces in raiding a farm in the north of the town of Al-Awamiya in Qatif governorate used by terrorist elements in preparing and planning terrorist acts, foiling their plans and neutralizing their danger. Following the Cabinet's session, Dr. Adel bin Zaid Al-Toraifi, Minister of Culture and Information, said that the Cabinet reviewed various topics on its agenda, including issues co-studied with Shura Council and concluded that: First: The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Education or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Jordanian side a scientific and educational cooperation program between the Saudi Ministry of Education and Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Second: The Cabinet approved a memorandum of cooperation in the field of labor between the Saudi Ministry of Labor and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Moroccan Ministry of Employment and Social Development. Third: The Cabinet authorized the Ministry of Transport, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of General Authority of Civil Aviation, or his deputy, to sign draft agreements between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the governments of each of the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Ireland, and the Republic of Hungary in the field of air transport services, and forward the final signed version for further legal procedures. Fourth: The Cabinet approved an agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in the field of air transport services which was signed in Jeddah on 20/2/1437H. Fifth: The Cabinet approved an agreement on air services between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan which was signed in Riyadh on 21/9/1436H. Sixth: The Cabinet approved an amendment of 62nd article of the Officers Service Regulation.
