Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The Council of Ministers on Tuesday reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and safety of Somalia.

The Cabinet roundly rejected the declaration of mutual recognition between the Israeli occupation authorities and the so-called “Somaliland region,” as it legitimizes unilateral separatist measures that violate international law.

At the outset of the session, King Salman, while chairing the session, briefed the Cabinet on a message that he received from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding relations between the two nations.

The Cabinet then reviewed recent government activities aimed at strengthening ties with friendly nations, and bolstering bilateral and multilateral coordination to serve common interests and consolidate regional security and stability. In this context, the Cabinet commended the outcomes of the third meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council. It noted the progress in economic, trade, industrial, energy, and investment sectors to achieve greater prosperity for the peoples of the two countries.
The Council followed up on Saudi Arabia's ongoing humanitarian leadership, providing health, education, and food aid globally based on Islamic values.

On the domestic front, the Cabinet reviewed strategies for comprehensive development under Vision 2030, focusing on improving the quality of life for citizens and residents. Specifically, the Council commended the start of the implementation of the third phase of the Riyadh Main and Ring Road Axes Development Program, a key project to support the capital's transportation sector, enhance connectivity between its districts, and establish the city as a major regional hub for sustainable transportation and logistics.

The Cabinet approved the regulatory bylaws for the special economic zones of Jazan, the Information Cloud Computing Zone, King Abdullah Economic City, and Ras Al-Khair. It also endorsed the bylaws for joint government committees.
The Cabinet approved the abolition of the Tourism Development Council and the regional tourism development councils, and their reorganization. It approved the establishment of a commercial and economic office for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government in Riyadh.

The Cabinet approved a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Saudi and Pakistani governments for cooperation in the field of energy, and a draft headquarters agreement between the Saudi government and the General Secretariat of the Green Middle East Initiative. It approved a draft MoU for cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Justice and the Hungarian National Office of Judiciary, and a draft MoU between the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Economy in the field of communications and information technology.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Economy and Planning or his deputy to sign a draft MoU between the Saudi government and the World Economic Forum. It approved a draft MoU between the Saudi Ministry of Health and the Iraqi Ministry of Health for cooperation in health fields and another draft agreement between the Saudi government and the government of Tajikistan on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters.

The Cabinet approved Saudi Arabia's accession to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation (Beijing Convention, 2010) and a draft air services agreement between the Saudi government and the Serbian government.

The Council authorized the minister of communications and information technology and the chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Space Agency or his deputy to discuss and sign with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs regarding a draft MoU for cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

The Cabinet approved a draft agreement between the Saudi government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) concerning the establishment of the regional center for dialogue and peace under UNESCO's auspices, and a draft memorandum of cooperation between the King Abdulaziz Foundation and the National Archives of Kazakhstan.