RIYADH: Saudi Arabia reiterated its support for Tunisia’s security and stability, its confidence in its leadership to overcome the circumstances and achieve prosperity for Tunisians, and called on the international community to stand by the country to face its health and economic challenges.
The stance was confirmed during a weekly meeting by the Council of Ministers that was chaired by King Salman, where they reviewed a number of reports on Arab, regional and international developments.
The king opened the meeting by praising the success of the Hajj pilgrimage, which enabled pilgrims to perform the ritual in a safe and healthy environment, with no cases of COVID-19 recorded among worshipers.
Acting Minister of Media Dr. Issam bin Saad bin Saeed said the cabinet was briefed on all the communication between the Kingdom and a number of countries over the past few days to advance relations and enhance coordination, “to maintain international peace and security, as well as to strengthen multilateral frameworks through partnerships and collective action,” Saudi Press Agency reported.
The council of ministers said Saudi Arabia would continue to be at the forefront of contributors to supporting development, prosperity and peace for the entire world, which was included in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s statement at the financing the Global Partnership for Education summit held in London on Thursday.
The ministers said this comes from the Kingdom’s interest and keenness to support international initiatives and programs that enhance the economies of education and educational systems in the beneficiary countries, to provide high-quality services to those who need them most in light of the crisis caused by the pandemic.
The Council of Ministers also discussed the Kingdom’s statement at the International Conference on Central and South Asia in Uzbekistan, that it continues to work with its partners in international organizations to combat the coronavirus pandemic, foster an environment conducive to development and growth, increase trade partnerships across regions, and support all efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.
The relief aid provided by Saudi Arabia to a number of Arab and Islamic countries to tackle the pandemic is an extension of the humanitarian role it plays toward the most affected countries, to continue extending help and assistance, and to contribute to supporting international efforts, the cabinet said.
The ministers condemned the continued attempts of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia to target civilian objects and populated areas in the Kingdom with ballistic missiles and drones, and to threaten shipping lines and international trade in the Red Sea.
They praised Saudi air defenses for thwarting these hostile attempts, and the Arab coalition’s contribution to securing freedom of navigation and the safety of ships transiting the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
The cabinet discussed local and international developments to do with the coronavirus pandemic, the Kingdom’s inoculation campaign which has administered more than 27 million doses of the vaccine, raising the country’s ranking globally in vaccine rates.
The cabinet authorized the health minister to discuss with the US a draft memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Ministry of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services to cooperate in the fields of public health and medical sciences.
The cabinet also approved the regional protocol for technical cooperation to borrow and transfer experts, technicians, devices, equipment and materials in emergency cases.
It also approved a protocol between the Saudi government and the Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) to establishment its regional office in the Kingdom.
The ministers also approved a joint customs cooperation agreement between the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority and the Bahrain Customs Affairs.
Saudi Arabia reiterates support for Tunisia’s security, stability - cabinet
https://arab.news/gxdfs
Saudi Arabia reiterates support for Tunisia’s security, stability - cabinet
- Cabinet said the Kingdom continues to be at the forefront in supporting development, prosperity and peace for the entire world
- The cabinet discussed local and international developments to do with the coronavirus pandemic
Saudi crown prince extends condolences to Kuwaiti counterpart on death of Sheikh Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of condolences to Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on the passing of Sheikh Mohammed Abdulaziz Hamoud Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah.
In the cable, the crown prince extended his deepest sympathy to Sheikh Sabah and the family of the deceased.
Saudi tech diplomat meets Iraqi PM to discuss digital cooperation
- Deemah Al-Yahya, head of the multilateral Digital Cooperation Organization, commended Iraq’s investment in human capital as driver for growth and expansion of digital economy
- Iraq has been working in recent years to develop a strategy for digital transformation to help support the private and public sectors and grow the economy
RIYADH: Saudi senior tech diplomat Deemah AlYahya, the secretary-general of the multilateral Digital Cooperation Organization, held talks on Monday with Iraq’s prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, about support for Baghdad’s plans to develop its digital business and artificial intelligence sectors.
They discussed Iraq’s strategy for digital transformation, and the need to create and develop a workforce with the tech skills required to help grow the Iraqi economy effectively, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Though Iraq is not a member of the DCO, an international body that focuses on the digital economy, Al-Sudani said his country is keen to work with the organization to meet the nation’s needs for a skilled workforce in the business sector.
AlYahya commended Iraq for the progress it has already made in terms of investment in the human capital needed to develop the digital skills that are essential to drive growth in a digitized economy.
Iraq has been working in recent years to develop a strategy for digital transformation to help support the private and public sectors and grow the economy. Authorities this month organized the first Digital Space Iraq Forum, which focused on the use of advanced technologies, including AI, to help build a comprehensive digital economy.
The DCO says that since it was founded in November 2020, it has been at the forefront of efforts to curate policies and initiatives to support the digital economy in several countries. Currently, 16 nations are members, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh and Oman. It also has 39 observer partner organizations.
DCO member states have a collective gross domestic product of $3.5 trillion and serve a combined market of nearly 800 million people, more than 70 percent of whom are under the age of 35.
Saudi FM pushes for regional stability at G7-Arab foreign ministers meeting
- In his address, Prince Faisal highlighted the ongoing crises in Gaza and Lebanon
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan took part in an expanded session of the second meeting between G7 foreign ministers and their counterparts from Arab nations on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting was hosted in Italy under the theme “Together for the Stability of the Middle East.”
The session, which addressed pressing regional and international challenges, was held with the participation of Saudi, Jordanian, Emirati, Qatari and Egyptian officials, as well as the secretary-general of the Arab League.
In his address, Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships to address these challenges effectively.
He highlighted the ongoing crises in Gaza and Lebanon, urging the international community to act immediately to secure a ceasefire, facilitate unrestricted humanitarian aid, and progress toward establishing an independent Palestinian state.
He also called for respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty, and renewed international efforts to resolve the crisis in Sudan and alleviate the resulting human suffering.
The meeting was also attended by Prince Faisal bin Sattam bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi ambassador to Italy, the SPA reported.
Scientists awarded for sustainable water innovation at Saudi conference
- Research aims to improve desalination efficiency
- Makkah’s deputy emir in attendance
JEDDAH: Scientists were awarded prizes for their work in researching desalination and wastewater treatment technologies during an event in Jeddah on Monday.
The third edition of the Innovation-Driven Water Sustainability Conference was attended by 480 experts, scientists, researchers, specialists and 40 leading organizations in the water sector, from 20 countries.
The grand prize — the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination 2024 — went to Lee Nuang Sim from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University for his project “uncovering the power of centrifugal reverse osmosis,” and Sue Mecham, CEO of NALA Membranes, for her project “chlorine stable new membranes for sustainable desalination and wastewater treatment/reuse.”
Mecham, from North Carolina, US, spoke to Arab News after receiving her award, saying: “We are honored to be selected for the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination 2024. Our mission is to bring new membranes to market and reduce the cost and complexity of water purification.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Ghadeer Al-Balawi from the University of Tabuk was another one of this year’s prizewinners with her project “novel heterogeneous catalysts for improving wastewater treatment plants in Saudi Arabia.”
Al-Balawi told Arab News: “I am incredibly honored to be one of the recipients of the Global Prize for Innovation in Desalination 2024. This recognition means so much to me. This project has been conducted at the University of Sheffield with hard work and dedication with the assistance of my supervisor, Dr. Marco Conte.”
The event’s opening ceremony was attended by Makkah Deputy Emir Prince Saud bin Mishal and Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, as well as other senior officials.
Following the opening, Abdullah Al-Abdulkarim, chairman of the Saudi Water Authority, said that the event reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting scientific and research innovation as a pillar for achieving water sustainability and security.
Through the conference, the SWA aims to share the impact of innovation in promoting the sustainable supply of water, according to SWA spokesperson Sultan Al-Rajhi.
“This conference discusses the latest global practices and innovative solutions in the water industry, with the participation of experts, scientists and specialists, who emphasize the pivotal role of innovation in accelerating the future prosperity of water and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for water and the environment,” he said.
The two-day conference will continue to feature discussions on more than 180 research papers, as well as a water hackathon organized by the Saudi Water Innovation Center.
PSC members visit Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh
- The EU and the GCC held a political dialogue session, co-chaired by Pronk and Jasem Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the GCC
RIYADH: Members of the EU’s Political and Security Committee, including its chair, Ambassador Delphine Pronk, and ambassadors of EU member states, paid an official visit to the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in Riyadh on Monday.
The delegation was accompanied by the European External Action Service Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa Helene Le Gal, and EU Special Representative for the Gulf Luigi Di Maio.
The EU and the GCC held a political dialogue session, co-chaired by Pronk and Jasem Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the GCC.
The two parties discussed matters of mutual interest and the need to increase joint efforts to tackle global challenges.
This included the situations in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, Gulf security and Iran, maritime security in the Red Sea region, Iraq, Sudan and the Horn of Africa, as well as Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The committee delegates and the GCC also agreed on strengthening the EU-GCC regional security cooperation.
The political dialogue constitutes an important step forward following the successful first EU-GCC Summit in Brussels on Oct. 16.
