The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Tuesday in Riyadh, praised the positive outcome of the Saudi-African Summit in Riyadh, which will lead to a significant leap in cooperation and partnerships between Saudi Arabia and African countries. The cooperation will be mainly through development projects and programs initiated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Africa, as well as of other agreements and memorandums of understanding, and the new investments and funds offered to various sectors. The Cabinet was briefed on the two messages that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques had received from the Burkina Faso interim president and transitional president of Mali, and on the message that Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman had received from the Sultan of Oman. The Cabinet also reviewed the talks and consultations held by the Crown Prince with leaders of several brotherly and friendly countries, at bilateral and multilateral levels, as part of the Kingdom's efforts to boost its international partnerships, continue its leading role in endeavoring to achieve peace and security in the region, and mobilize collective action toward achieving more global stability, progress and prosperity. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Bin Yousef Al-Dosari said that the Cabinet thanked the leaders of brotherly countries for having participated in the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit, through which the Kingdom sought to strengthen and coordinate joint action to stop the brutal war in Gaza, hold the occupation authorities responsible for the crimes committed there, and reaffirm support for the Palestinian cause, to ensure that the Palestinian people regain their legitimate rights, foremost among which the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's affirmation, made during the Gulf Cooperation Council interior ministers' meeting, that it is important to intensify cooperation and joint security coordination, in light of the challenges that the region and the world are going through, and that have led to increasing waves of violence, terrorism, extremism, insecurity, and cross-border organized crime. The Cabinet tackled the outcomes of the first meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council, which was held in Muscat, and praised the strong relations between the two countries, and the continuous progress and development witnessed in various fields. The Cabinet highlighted the Kingdom's active role in bolstering the goals of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its endeavors to safeguard women's rights while encouraging their engagement in development initiatives in member nations, including hosting the International Conference on Women in Islam, where the Jeddah Document on Women's Rights in Islam was adopted. This document serves as a vital legislative and intellectual framework aimed at advancing the empowerment of women in Islamic societies. The Cabinet approved the establishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and authorizing the minister of foreign affairs to sign the pertaining draft protocol. It approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Italian Ministry of Culture. The Cabinet authorized the minister of culture to discuss and sign with the Spanish and Cuban sides memoranda of understanding for cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Culture, the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Sports, and the Cuban Ministry of Culture. It approved an agreement between Saudi Arabia and China for cooperation and judicial assistance in civil, commercial, and civil status affairs. The Cabinet approved Saudi Arabia's, represented by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, accession to the Global Alliance for Building and Construction. It approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand. The Cabinet authorized the minister of investment to sign a draft agreement between the Saudi government and the government of Kazakhstan that encourages and protects investment. It approved Saudi Arabia's accession to the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, as a member. The Cabinet authorized the minister of education to discuss and sign with the Greek side a draft memorandum of scientific and educational cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs in the Hellenic Republic. It approved a memorandum of understanding for cooperation and exchange of news between the Saudi Press Agency and the Iraqi News Agency. The Cabinet approved, in principle, the establishment of the Regional Center for Sustainable Development of Fisheries Resources. Iy approved the National Development Fund's accession to the World Economic Forum. — SPA
