The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the Cabinet's session at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on this afternoon. King Salman began the meeting by congratulating the people of Saudi Arabia and Arab and Islamic peoples on the near advent of the blessed holy month of Ramadan, praying to Allah Almighty to help them in fasting and prayers and accept their good deeds in this holy month. The King then briefed the Cabinet on the message he received from the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and the results of his talks with President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon. King Salman also briefed the Cabinet on his meeting with the Executive Director of World Food Programme Ertharin Cousin, pointing to the Kingdom's keenness to support various efforts and provide assistance for the needy peoples around the world.

The Cabinet was then briefed on reports about local affairs and the latest regional and international developments and commended the United Nations' efforts to hold the Geneva conference on Yemen today. The Kingdom re-emphasizing its support for the demands of the legitimate Yemeni government by committing to the Riyadh Declaration, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216, the Gulf Initiative, and the results of the Yemeni National Dialogue.

The Cabinet commended the results of the 135th session of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab States which was held in Riyadh, and the results of the 23rd meeting of Ministers of Information of the Gulf Cooperation Council for Arab States which was held in Doha.

The Cabinet expressed satisfaction with the strength of the Saudi national economy, as shown in the Saudi Arabian Monterey Agency’s 50th and 51st annual reports. The Cabinet noted that the national economy has achieved good results in the last year, where the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 5.3 percent and is expected to grow. The Kingdom's economic policies have focused on vital areas such as the development of national human resources, modernization and maintenance of infrastructure projects, quest to diversify the production base, and enhancing the financial reserves of the State to cope with unforeseen developments in the global oil prices.

The Cabinet authorized president of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, or his deputy, to discuss and sign a draft memorandum of joint intent with the Russian Space Agency in the field of exploration of outer space and its use for peaceful purposes. After reviewing the report submitted by the Minister Finance and after consideration of the Shura Council Resolution No. (48/28) dated 18/06/1436 H, the Cabinet approved the agreement the Kyrgyz Republic on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, signed in Riyadh on 10/02/1436 AH.