RIYADH — The Council of Ministers on Monday took two major decisions aimed at further enhancing bilateral relations with Britain in the fields of industrial and labor cooperation. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Yamamah palace here, approved signing of a cooperation program to provide training to Saudis to take up jobs in the units of British industries in the Kingdom, Minister of Social Affairs and Acting Minister of Culture and Information Majed Al-Qasabi said. The Cabinet authorized the minister of commerce and industry or his deputy to discuss with the British counterpart a draft cooperation program between the ministry and the United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI), and sign it within the framework of the Saudi-British Joint Committee, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. Al-Qasabi said the Cabinet authorized minister of labor or his deputy to discuss with the British counterpart a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of labor between the ministry and the British ministry of employment and sign it, before submitting the final signed version to complete legal procedures. The Cabinet also authorized minister of agriculture or his deputy to discuss and sign with the Sudanese side a draft framework agreement between the ministry and Sudan's ministry of water resources and electricity regarding the partnership in agricultural investment in Upper Atbara agricultural project. The Cabinet approved formation of a permanent committee at King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy with a mission to unify and coordinate the measures to be carried out by relevant bodies for full implementation of the Kingdom's agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency for applying safeguards under the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The committee, consisting of specialists from the relevant bodies, can be assisted by representatives of other bodies to enable it to perform its missions. Al-Qasabi said the Cabinet strongly slammed the terrorist bombing that targeted Al-Mashhad Mosque in Najran city. It stated that such terrorist attacks have contributed only to strengthen the coherence and unity among the citizens as well as create more awareness among them about the ulterior designs of the deviant forces. "Those who stand behind such attacks target the Kingdom's security, stability and cohesion," the Council noted while praying to Allah Almighty to bestow mercy and forgiveness on the souls of the deceased and a speedy recovery for the injured. The Cabinet conveyed its deep condolences to the leadership and people of Russia following the plane crash in Egypt's Sinai. It also expressed sincere condolences to the governments and people of Pakistan and Afghanistan on the devastating earthquake that struck the region last week.
