Saudi Cabinet Praises Efforts to Enhance Kingdom’s Global Economic Position

King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairing the Saudi Cabinet session on Tuesday (SPA)
King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairing the Saudi Cabinet session on Tuesday (SPA)
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Saudi Cabinet Praises Efforts to Enhance Kingdom’s Global Economic Position

King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairing the Saudi Cabinet session on Tuesday (SPA)
King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairing the Saudi Cabinet session on Tuesday (SPA)

The Saudi Cabinet on Tuesday hailed the Kingdom’s keenness to communicate and strengthen relations with friendly countries as it continues playing a pivotal role through the participatory work system at the global level.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz had chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the Cabinet touched on the outcomes of the G20 Leaders’ Summit held in Indonesia, noting the significance of the Kingdom’s participation, whose delegation was led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to enhance its prestigious and important position in the global economy map, and contribution through this summit in supporting the efforts exerted in facing international challenges, especially with regard to preventing and responding to epidemics.

The Cabinet expressed hope that the positive results reached by the leaders will contribute to consolidating cooperation and increasing growth rates of the global economy.

Moreover, the Cabinet considered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ranking third globally and first regionally in the data of GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) for the year 2022 according to the World Bank Group, as a culmination of integration and joint work among government agencies which produced digital transformation initiatives and programs to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 by providing advanced services through high-quality digital products that supports the business environment and the march of the national economy and enhances its international competitiveness.

The Cabinet was briefed on the topics on its agenda, some co-studied by the Shura Council, as well as on the conclusions reached by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, the Council for Political and Security Affairs, the Cabinet's General Committee and the Cabinet's Bureau of Experts.

The Cabinet authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or his deputy, to discuss with Mongolia a draft memorandum of understanding on political consultations between the foreign ministry of the Kingdom and the foreign ministry of Mongolia, and sign it prior to forwarding the final version to complete legal procedure.

Additionally, the Cabinet decided that March 23rd of every year will be celebrated as Day of Social Accountability in Saudi Arabia.



Qatar PM Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks Make Some Progress

FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
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Qatar PM Says Gaza Ceasefire Talks Make Some Progress

FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The minaret of the Great Omari Mosque, which was hit in previous Israeli strike during the war, stands damaged in Gaza City, March 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas/File Photo

Qatar's prime minister said on Sunday that efforts to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza have made some progress but an agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war remains elusive.

"We have seen on Thursday a bit of progress compared to other meetings yet we need to find an answer for the ultimate question: how to end this war. That's the key point of the entire negotiations," said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, Reuters reported.

Mossad Director David Barnea traveled to Doha on Thursday to meet Sheikh Mohammed amid efforts to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza, Axios reported last week.

Sheikh Mohammed didn't say which elements of the ceasefire talks had progressed in recent days, but said Hamas and Israel remained at odds over the ultimate goal of negotiations.

He said the militant group is willing to return all remaining Israeli hostages if Israel ends the war in Gaza. But Israel wants Hamas to release the remaining hostages without offering a clear vision on ending the war, he said.

"When you don't have a common objective, a common goal between the parties, I believe the opportunities (to end the war) become very thin," Sheikh Mohammed said at a press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Fidan said talks Turkish officials have held with Hamas had shown the group would be more open to an agreement that goes beyond a ceasefire in Gaza and aims for a lasting solution to the crisis with Israel, including a two-state solution.

Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18 after a January ceasefire collapsed, saying it would keep up pressure on Hamas until it frees the remaining hostages still held in the enclave. Up to 24 of them are believed to still be alive.

The Gaza war started after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack. Since then, Israel's offensive on the enclave killed more than 51,400, according to local health officials.