The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session held on Tuesday at Irqah Palace in Riyadh. The Cabinet was briefed on the content of the telephone call that His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, made with the president of Türkiye to express condolences over the victims of the earthquake and to stress the Kingdom's solidarity with the Turkish people in overcoming this disaster. The Cabinet followed up on developments in the humanitarian situation caused by the earthquake, the Kingdom's efforts to mitigate its impact on the brotherly peoples of Türkiye and Syria, by participating in rescue works, and sending medical, shelter, food and logistical assistance, and launching a campaign to help those affected by this painful event, as an extension of the humanitarian role of the Kingdom, which stands with the suffering and the bereaved across the world. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majed Al-Qasabi said that the Cabinet reviewed the latest discussions the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia held with several countries over the past few days, including HRH Crown Prince's telephone calls with the prime minister of Italy and the Crown Prince of Kuwait. The Cabinet also reviewed the top economic events that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted last week, praising in this regard HRH Crown Prince's support to the technological and digital sector that enhanced the Kingdom's status as a pivotal hub for technology and innovation, and the outcomes of LEAP 23 conference, during which investments exceeding USD 9 billion were announced, to support the future technologies and startup sectors. The Cabinet also considered announcing the dispatch of two Saudi man and woman astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) during the second quarter of 2023, proof of the country's interest in building national capacities for manned space flights, taking advantage of promising opportunities in this sector and its industries globally, and contributing to scientific research that serves humanity in several priority areas. The Cabinet also reviewed several issues on its agenda, some co-studied by the Shura Council, recent achievements by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council of Political and Security Affairs, the Cabinet's General Committee and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts. The Cabinet issued the following decisions: First: Authorizing the minister of energy – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Senegalese side regarding a draft cooperation agreement in the energy field, sign it and refer the final copy to carry out with formal procedures. Second: Authorizing the minister of foreign affairs – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Cypriot side regarding a draft general agreement for cooperation, sign it and refer the final copy to complete the formal procedures. Third: Approving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's accession to the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI). Fourth: Authorizing the minister of culture – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Chadian side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding in the cultural field between the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Culture and Promotion of Diversity of Chad, sign it and refer the final copy to carry out the formal procedures. Fifth: Authorizing the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Moroccan side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco regarding preserving the environment, sign it and refer the final copy to complete the formal procedures. Sixth: Authorizing the minister of media and chairman of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority – or a deputy – to hold talks with the Kyrgyzstani side regarding a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the radio and television field between the Saudi Broadcasting Authority and the Public Broadcasting Corporation of the Kyrgyz Republic, sign it and refer the final copy to carry out the formal procedures. Seventh: Approving the accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the membership of the International Committee for Mining Reserves Reporting Standards Organization (CRIRSCO). Eighth: Approving an agreement between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the government of the Republic of Bulgaria in the field of air transport services. Ninth: Approving the organizational arrangements of the Research, Development and Innovation Development Authority. Tenth: Approving the organization of the Financial Academy. Eleventh: Approving the organization of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. Twelfth: Approving the organization of the Saudi Press Agency. Thirteenth: Approving the statute of The International Camel Organization (ICO), and authorizing the minister of foreign affairs - or his deputy - to discuss with the organization a draft agreement regarding the headquarters between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the organization, sign it, and then submit the final copy for the procedures to be completed. The Cabinet also reviewed several issues on its agenda and took necessary procedures in their regard.
