Saudi Project to Prepare Executive Guidelines to Rationalize Sustainable Energy

Saudi Shura Council
Saudi Shura Council
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Saudi Project to Prepare Executive Guidelines to Rationalize Sustainable Energy

Saudi Shura Council
Saudi Shura Council

Saudi Arabia is currently working on enhancing energy efficiency through a huge project to prepare executive guidelines to implement the directives and principles of rationalizing sustainable energy.

This step aims at bolstering the Kingdom’s strategic approach to control energy use and ensure its sustainability in accordance with its Vision 2030.

The Saudi Shura Council has reviewed with officials of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center the developments of the project in cooperation with specialists from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

The Council’s Economic and Energy Committee held a meeting on Friday to review the annual report of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center.

The videoconference was chaired by Dr. Faisal al-Fadel and attended by the Center’s President, Nasser al-Ghamdi, and a number of officials.

They discussed the executive and administrative obstacles and challenges facing the Center and the most prominent solutions to overcome the difficulties in order to improve its achievements.

Discussions stressed on means to localize technologies and use digital technology to boost energy efficiency in the Kingdom.

They highlighted the role of digital technology in modernizing energy efficiency and increasing its value, in addition to removing regulatory barriers to innovation and improving access to energy-related data, while ensuring equitable access to digital technology and infrastructure.

The Committee is one of the Shura Council’s several specialized committees with a focus on energy consumption, rationalization of power, and innovation in the sector.

Separately, the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Investment revealed on Saturday that it has licensed 3.4 thousand shops and stores to announce discounts for commercial establishments and e-stores on the occasion of the Kingdom's National Day during the period from Sep.22 till 24.

These included more than 1.7 million food and consumer products displayed at commercial and e-sales outlets in the Kingdom’s various regions.

Electrical and electronic devices, clothes, and other commodities and other products topped the list of the most discounted commodities.

According to a statement on Saturday, the Ministry’s monitoring teams launched 497 commercial reports about discount violations received by the Consumer Reports Center.

Regulatory measures were taken in accordance with the Anti-Commercial Fraud Law, the statement affirmed.



Trump Touts ‘Done’ Deal with Beijing on Rare Earths, Chinese Students

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting to discuss China-US trade, in London, Monday, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting to discuss China-US trade, in London, Monday, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)
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Trump Touts ‘Done’ Deal with Beijing on Rare Earths, Chinese Students

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting to discuss China-US trade, in London, Monday, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, right, shakes hands with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent before their meeting to discuss China-US trade, in London, Monday, June 9, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)

US President Donald Trump touted ties with China as "excellent" on Wednesday, saying the superpowers reached a deal after two days of talks aimed at preserving a truce in their damaging trade war.  

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that China would supply rare earth minerals and magnets -- vital elements for American industries -- while Washington would allow Chinese students to remain in US universities.  

His post came after top United States and Chinese negotiators announced a "framework" agreement late Tuesday following two days of marathon talks in London. 

"Our deal with China is done," Trump wrote, adding that the agreement was still "subject to final approval with President Xi (Jinping) and me." 

"President XI and I are going to work closely together to open up China to American Trade," he said in a second post. "This would be a great WIN for both countries!!!"  

US stock markets showed little enthusiasm despite Trump's statements, but major indexes edged higher in early trading.  

- 'Candid' talks -  

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that it was possible to rebalance economic relations with China if Beijing proved a "reliable partner in trade negotiations."  

"If China will course-correct by upholding its end of the initial trade agreement we outlined in Geneva, and I believe after our talks in London they will, then the rebalancing of the world's two largest economies is possible," Bessent told lawmakers at the House Ways and Means Committee.  

The two sides agreed to reduce their tit-for-tat, triple-digit tariffs during talks in Geneva last month, but cracks appeared in the detente after Trump accused China of violating the deal.  

Washington was concerned at slower supplies of rare earths after Beijing in early April began requiring domestic exporters to apply for a license -- widely seen as a response to US tariffs.  

Rare earths are used in everything from electric vehicles to hard drives, wind turbines and missiles.  

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in London on Tuesday that US measures imposed when rare earths "were not coming" would likely be relaxed once Beijing moved forward with more license approvals.  

On Truth Social, Trump said China will supply "full magnets, and any necessary rare earths" up front.  

Washington has infuriated Beijing by vowing to revoke the visas of Chinese students, a major source of revenue for US universities.  

On Wednesday, Trump said: "We will provide to China what was agreed to, including Chinese students using our colleges and universities."  

The US president also said that the United States applies 55 percent tariffs on Chinese goods -- a combination of his 30 percent additional levies this year and the rough average of pre-existing duties, a White House official said.  

He said Beijing charges 10 percent duties on US goods.  

The rates are the same as those that were previously agreed in the truce, which temporarily brought US tariffs down from 145 percent and those imposed by China from 125 percent.  

In a Chinese state media readout of the talks released Wednesday, Vice Premier He Lifeng, who headed Beijing's team in London, stressed the need for the two sides to strengthen cooperation in future dialogue.  

"As a next step, the two sides should... continuously enhance consensus, reduce misunderstandings and strengthen cooperation," He said, according to state broadcaster CCTV.  

Speaking to reporters in London, China International Trade Representative Li Chenggang earlier said: "Our communication has been very professional, rational, in-depth and candid."