The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet's weekly session at Al-Yamamah palace in Riyadh on Monday. At the outset of the session, the King briefed the council on the results of the official visits he paid to China, India, Malaysia and Pakistan and the talks he held then on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common interest leading to the signing of a number of bilateral agreements. The King expressed thanks to the leaders and peoples of these countries for the hospitality he and the accompanying delegation received. The King said that this reflects the strength of relations between the kingdom and these countries which will be enhanced more to further bolster regional stability and peace and relations at various levels. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, the Minister of Social Affairs and Acting Minister of Culture and Information said that the council then expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the mishap of the Egyptian ferry "Al-Salam-98" which sank in the Red Sea. Mr. Abdulmohsin Ala'kkas said the council expressed the kingdom's hope that the current peace process in Iraq would result in the formation of a government capable of realizing the unity, territorial integrity, prosperity and freedom of Iraq away from foreign intervention. On the Palestinian issue, Mr. Ala'kkas said the council wished the Palestinian people success in realizing their national interests. --more 20 10 Local Time 17 10 GMT
