HRH the Crown Prince Chairs Cabinet Session in Riyadh

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet session held today in Riyadh.
 At the outset of the session, HRH the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on the contents of phone calls with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin; Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani; and President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. He also briefed the Cabinet on his meeting with United Arab Emirates Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The discussions reviewed relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and these brotherly and friendly nations, as well as ways to strengthen and develop these ties across various fields. Additionally, the talks addressed regional developments and efforts to enhance security and stability at both regional and international levels.
 In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's participation in the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. In this context, the Cabinet praised the national efforts and the Kingdom's significant role in this global event, particularly its leadership and support for multilateral action at various levels. These efforts promote international peace and security, enhance dialogue and diplomacy, aid in addressing global crises and challenges, and strengthen responses to humanitarian needs.
 The Cabinet viewed the Kingdom's financial support for the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center's programs as an essential part of its ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms. This support underscores the importance of the center in enhancing national capacities, unifying global efforts, and strengthening international cooperation in this field.
 The Cabinet noted the progress made in establishing the General Secretariat of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and forming its committees and working groups.
 It also noted the steps taken at the meetings of the foreign ministers and chiefs of general staff of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Republic of Türkiye to advance coordination and integration among the three countries and begin translating the agreement's commitments into military cooperation that strengthens deterrence and collective defense.
 The Cabinet followed developments in political issues at the regional and international levels, expressing its welcome for the statement issued by members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which condemned the continued attacks by the Houthi terrorist militia against Saudi Arabia and commercial vessels, threats to the security of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the undermining of efforts aimed at achieving peace in Yemen.
 The Cabinet also stressed the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, and of restoring conditions in the Strait of Hormuz to those prevailing before February 28, while imposing no fees or restrictions. It rejected the use of these vital waterways as a means of exerting pressure, issuing threats, or harming the interests of states, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
 Minister Al-Dossary said the Cabinet strongly condemned continued assaults by officials of the Israeli occupation authorities and extremist settlers on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its religious and historical status, as well as continued expansionist attempts to infringe upon the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
 He also indicated that the Cabinet renewed Saudi Arabia's affirmation that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
 The Cabinet also reviewed a number of reports on domestic affairs, commending the successive international recognition of the leadership of the “Saudi Model for Education and Training Quality” in building an integrated ecosystem of programs, tools, and measures, supported by a broad database of data and information. This contributes to ensuring the adequacy of education outcomes, preparing national talent capable of competing globally, and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation, in line with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program and Saudi Vision 2030.
 The Cabinet addressed other items on its agenda and issued several decisions, including the following:
 First:
 Approving an agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Government of the Republic of Türkiye on mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and special passports.
 Second:
 Authorizing the minister of culture, or a deputy, to discuss and sign with the US side a draft memorandum of understanding for cultural cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Smithsonian Institution in the United States of America.
 Third:
 Authorizing the minister of health, or a deputy, to discuss and sign with the Djiboutian side a draft memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the health sector between the Saudi Ministry of Health and the Djibouti Ministry of Health.
 Fourth:
 Approving a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority and the Syrian Central Authority for Supervision and Inspection in the field of preventing and combating corruption.
 Fifth:
 Authorizing the minister of finance and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) to approve the lists of prohibited and restricted goods and goods of a special nature approved within the framework of the Gulf Cooperation Council.