Saudi Govt Briefed on Biden’s Visit to Kingdom

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Briefed on Biden’s Visit to Kingdom

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi cabinet was briefed on Tuesday on the visit paid to the Kingdom by US President Joe Biden in mid-July.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the meeting that was held at the al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.

Biden’s official two-day visit to the Kingdom included talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and his attendance of the Gulf-Arab summit.

Biden and Saudi officials tackled the strategic partnership that binds Riyadh and Washington. American and Saudi officials signed 18 agreements during Biden’s visit.

The cabinet was also briefed on the messages received by King Salman from the leaders of Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and Tajikistan and the telephone call Crown Prince Mohammed received from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The ministers hailed the achievements reached during the Kazak president’s visit to Saudi Arabia where he held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed.

Delegations from both countries signed agreements to expand their bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.

The cabinet reviewed the outcomes of the meetings of the foreign and finance ministers and central bank governors of the G20, held in Bali, Indonesia.

It reiterated Saudi Arabia’s keenness to boost collective efforts aimed at building bridges with regional and international organizations, in order to increase the effectiveness of joint work towards inclusive and sustainable growth and recovery.

The cabinet highlighted Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Donor Support Group between July 2022 and June 2023. The presidency consolidates the Kingdom’s position among the world’s leading countries in providing development and humanitarian aid.

The cabinet hailed the outcomes of the Five-Year Committee meeting on Yemen. The committee includes Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and US. The meeting stressed the importance of the continuation of the truce between the Yemeni parties, full support for the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy and continued support for the UN humanitarian response plan.

Locally, the ministers stressed the state’s keenness on taking into consideration the neediest citizens as they face the impact of the global rise in prices.

They noted the state’s allocation of SR20 billion in financial support and measures to control the availability of products and price levels, protect and encourage fair competition, and combat and prevent monopolistic practices.

The cabinet applauded Crown Prince Mohammed’s announcement regarding the National Aspirations and Priorities for Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) for the next two decades.

The aspirations and priorities are: Health and Wellness; Sustainable Environment and Supply of Essential Needs; Energy and Industrial Leadership; and Economies of the Future. They will boost the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and leadership in line with Saudi Vision 2030, and strengthen the Kingdom's position as the largest economy in the region.

The cabinet highlighted the efforts of workers and volunteers in all governmental and private sectors, who contributed to the success of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.



Global Cybersecurity Forum 2024 Kicks Off in Riyadh

The Saudi Crown Prince announced the launch of the "Global Security Forum to Protect Children in Cyberspace" during his welcoming speech to the forum's guests. (SPA)
The Saudi Crown Prince announced the launch of the "Global Security Forum to Protect Children in Cyberspace" during his welcoming speech to the forum's guests. (SPA)
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Global Cybersecurity Forum 2024 Kicks Off in Riyadh

The Saudi Crown Prince announced the launch of the "Global Security Forum to Protect Children in Cyberspace" during his welcoming speech to the forum's guests. (SPA)
The Saudi Crown Prince announced the launch of the "Global Security Forum to Protect Children in Cyberspace" during his welcoming speech to the forum's guests. (SPA)

The fourth Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) 2024 began in Riyadh on Wednesday. It is organized by Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority, in partnership with the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE).
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed participants on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The two-day event, themed “Advancing Collective Action in Cyberspace,” has drawn leaders, policymakers, and experts from over 120 countries.
In a message read at the opening ceremony in Riyadh, the Crown Prince stated: “Cyberspace is closely linked to the growth of economies, the prosperity of societies, the security of individuals, and the stability of nations.”
According to SPA, he noted that due to the cross-border nature of cyberspace, it is essential to harmonize international efforts to seize the opportunities and “face the challenges it presents, by investing in people.”
Welcoming the participants, the Crown Prince said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always been a force for good for the benefit of humanity and human prosperity around the world.”
“It has continuously worked to uphold the principle of cooperation and strengthen international collaboration toward efforts that support development and prosperity for all nations. It has initiated several initiatives aimed at achieving these genuine goals in all sectors,” he noted.
“Believing in the importance of investing in people in this vital and promising domain, in 2020 we launched two global initiatives. The first relates to protecting children in cyberspace, and the second focuses on empowering women in the field of cybersecurity,” he added.
“The institute for the Global Cybersecurity Forum is entrusted with overseeing both initiatives, as well as implementing the associated projects,” affirmed the Crown Prince.
He highlighted the progress made by these initiatives, particularly the increased understanding of needs at the global level that has led to new and inspiring visions, enabling the GCF to develop impactful initiatives and programs, publish research and studies, and formulate new frameworks and strategies.
These efforts empower decision-makers worldwide to develop policies and programs that enhance child protection in cyberspace and promote women’s participation in the field of cybersecurity.
The first day of GCF 2024 featured discussions on five main topics: closing cybersecurity gaps, online behavior, the social structure of cyberspace, a thriving cyber economy, and new cyber opportunities.
Key officials, decision-makers, and experts from governments, academia, and global companies took part in the sessions.
The forum is a global platform that brings together leaders from governments, cybersecurity, academia, and NGOs. Its goal is to strengthen international cybersecurity, support economic and social development, and align global efforts in the field.