Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Foreign Minister of Australia discuss bilateral relations, regional and international developments

King Abdullah directs more precautionary measures against swine flu

Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz receives phone call from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak

Second Deputy Premier receives Australian official

Saudi Arabia manufactures helicopters, to market them in 3 years

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received at the Royal Court at Al Yamamah Palace Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, the King sent his regards to Governor General of Australia Quentin Bryce and Australia's Premier Kevin Michael Rudd. Topics of mutual interest were also discussed.

The audience was attended by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal; Chief of General Intelligence Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and a number of princes and officials.

King Abdullah also received a message from Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed Al Nahayyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

The message was delivered to the king by UAE minister of state for financial affairs Obaid bin Homaid Altayer during an audience in Riyadh on Monday.

The minister conveyed greetings of the president to the king who in turn sent his greetings to the president.

King Abdullah also chaired in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday the Cabinet's session.

At the outset of the session, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the cabinet on the discussions, consultations, meetings and contacts he held over the past few days with leaders of countries including his meeting with King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan on Wednesday in Khobar which reflected the strength of relations between the two countries and their constant aspirations to serve their common interests and those of their Arab and Islamic nations, as well as the messages he received from Sheikh Sabah Alahmad Alsabah, the emir of Kuwait, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah of Bahrain, Libyan leader Muammar Alqadhafi, the two telephone calls the king received from Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed Al Nahayyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and his meeting with both Australian foreign minister Steven Smith and Special Advisor to US Secretary of State for the Affairs of the GCC and East Asia Dennis Ross.

In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Moheiaddin Khoja said the Cabinet listened to a number of reports on the developments in the region and the world including a report by the Minister of Health on Swine Influenza.

The king ordered further boosting of precautionary measures to prevent the disease and to care for the safety of citizens and expatriates in the kingdom.

The minister briefed the Cabinet on the steps taken by the Ministry of Health to hold the GCC conference it called for with participation of experts of the World Health Organization to study the precautionary measures against the Swine Influenza to be held on Saturday as well as the results of the emergency meeting of health ministers of GCC countries which was held in Doha on Saturday on this issue and the meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Health Ministers in Riyadh.

Dr. Khojah said the Cabinet welcomed the GCC leaders to Riyadh to attend the 11th consultative meeting of the GCC leaders hoping the meeting will add more achievements to the joint work of the GCC in various fields.

The Cabinet also listened to a review by the Foreign Minister on the 19th joint GCC-European ministerial meeting which was concluded in Muscat on Wednesday and which continues joint efforts to boost cooperation between the two groups in all fields.

Locally, the Cabinet appreciated feelings of affection, loyalty and faithfulness shown by citizens in the Eastern Region to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques during his visit to the region last week. The Cabinet stressed that the giant projects commissioned by the king in the region reflected the strength of the national economy despite the world economic and financial crisis and underlined the ability of this country to deal with such a crisis.

Dr. Khoja said the Cabinet, after reviewing the Cabinet's agenda, took a number of decisions as follows:

The Cabinet approved the kingdom's contribution to the increase of the subscribed capital of the Islamic Development Bank with an amount of 23,649 additional shares with a nominal value of 10,000 Islamic dinars for each share.

The Cabinet approved the kingdom's accession to the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-Operation, 1990.

The Cabinet approved the final account of Saudi Railways Organization for the fiscal year 1427/1428 H.

The Cabinet approved a number of appointments at the 15th and 14th rank as follows:

1- Osamah bin Ahmad bin Abbas Nuqali is appointed to the position of ambassador (15th rank) at the Foreign Ministry,

2- Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammad bin A'ayyaf Al Miqrin is appointed to the position of assistant head of the experts' commission (15th rank) at the experts' commission at the Council of Ministers,

3- Mojahid bin Ali bin Wahbi is appointed to the position of minister plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry,

4- Dr. Talal bin Abdulmajeed bin Ahmad Yosif is appointed to the position of director general of private education (14th rank) at the Ministry of Higher Education,

5- Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Ibrahim Albosayes is appointed to the position of director general of the president's office (14th rank) at the Court of Grievances,

6- Fahd bin Mohammad bin Salih Alisa is appointed to the position of legal expert B (14th rank) at the experts' commission at the Council of Ministers.

King Abdullah received in Ehssa's Hajr Palace a number of princes, Ulema, Sheikhs, senior civil and military officials and a group of citizens who came to greet and congratulate him on his safe arrival in the province of Ehssa.

The audience was attended by Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister; Prince Abdul-Elah bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the King; Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Region; Prince Juluwi bin Abdulaziz bin Mousaed, Deputy Governor of Eastern Region; Prince Badr bin Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Juluwi, Governor of Ehssa Province; a number of other princes and ministers.

The King had arrived earlier in Ehssa province coming from Al-Khobar.

Upon arrival at Hajr Palace in Ehssa, the King was received by Prince Jlwy bin Abdulaziz bin Mousaed, Deputy Governor of Eastern Region; Prince Badr bin Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Jlwy, Governor of Ehssa Province; a number of Princes and senior civil and military officials.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was accompanied by Prince Abdul Ellah bin Abdulaziz, Adviser to the King; Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Region; Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saud, Education Minister; other number of Princes and high ranking officials.

The Monarch was also accompanied by Minister of State and member of the Cabinet Dr. Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Khoweiter; Minister of Labor Dr. Ghazi bin Abdulrahman Al-Qussibi; Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja and a number of high ranking officials.

Upon leaving Al-Khobar Province, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was seen off by a number of officials.

On the other hand, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at his residence in the Moroccan city of Agadir on Monday a telephone call from President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak.

During the call, President Mubarak congratulated the Crown Prince on the safe arrival to Morocco following recovery. President Mubarak was reassured about the health of the Crown Prince, praying to Allah Almighty to grant the Crown Prince continuous good health and happiness.

The Crown Prince thanked the Egyptian President for his noble feelings.

Prince Sultan has expressed his gratitude to Prince Misha'al bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of Allegiance-Pledge Commission for his cable congratulating the Crown Prince on recovery and safe arrival in Morocco.

In a reply cable, the Crown Prince thanked Prince Misha'al for his sincere sentiments and noble feelings on this occasion, praying to Almighty Allah to perpetuate the blessing of good health for the Prince.

Assistant Minister of Culture and Information and Secretary General of Prince Sultan Charity Organization Prince Turki bin Sultan received a delegation from the organization headed by Director General Dr. Majid Al Qusaibi.

The delegation congratulated the prince on the Crown Prince's successful surgery.

Prince Turki extended his thanks to the delegation reassuring them at the same time about the Crown Prince's good health.

Prince Turki also added that the Crown Prince is spending some time in rehabilitation in Morocco and will soon be coming back to the Kingdom.

The meeting was attended by a number of officials.

On the other hand, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, received this evening the visiting Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith and the accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, a number of issues of common interest to both countries were discussed.

Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with the visiting Australian Minister Smith.

During the meeting, bilateral relations, ways of enhancing and developing them and regional and international issues of common interests were reviewed.

The meeting was attended by a number of high-ranking Saudi and Australian officials.

Prince Naif received in Riyadh the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-based Deans of Continents' Ambassadors, topped by Dean of Riyadh's Diplomatic Corps, the Ambassador of the Republic of Burkina Faso to the Kingdom, Omar Diawara who came to greet and congratulate him on being appointed as Second Deputy Premier.

The Ambassadors conveyed their congratulations to the Government and People of the Kingdom on the successful surgery operation which Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General has recently undergone, and their happiness of seen him back at home soon.

During the meeting, cordial talks, a number of issues of common interest and regional and international developments were reviewed and discussed.

The meeting was attended by a number of the Interior Ministry's high-ranking officials.

The prince also received in Riyadh Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Tabuk Region and governors of the Tabuk Region who came to greet and congratulate him on being bestowed the Royal confidence and appointed as Second Deputy Premier.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz also received a number of Ulema, intellectuals, chairman and members of the Saudi Association for Management and a group of citizens.

Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, expressed thanks to all for their good feelings and sincere prayers, appealing to Allah Almighty to support him in fulfilling his duties assigned to him by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General.

The receptions were attended by a number of high-ranking officials.

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) received a cable of thanks from Prince Naif in response to the letter addressed earlier to Prince Naif. In his previous letter, Al Attiyah lauded the security achievements by the Ministry of Interior in combating and defeating terrorism.

Al Attiyah also commended the wisdom of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz in dealing with such threats.

He also prayed for permanent security and stability in the Gulf.

Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, highlighted progress in the field of investment in tourist accommodation in the kingdom.

Prince Sultan bin Salman made the remarks at a conference on Arab Hotel Investment which was opened in Dubai.

Prince Sultan underlined efforts by the commission to develop the sector of tourist accommodation and said the tourism sector in the kingdom enjoys support by the leadership.

Prince Sultan said the tourism sector in the kingdom is an important economic factor and a fundamental base for diversification of income in the kingdom.

Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz participate was an official speaker at the Arab Conference for Hotel Investment.

The Prince participated with a working paper on "Future Vision of Tourism and Hotel Investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Future Trends, and Attraction of Investments to the Saudi Market" in which the Prince highlighted the Saudi economy and the current and future tourism investment activities in the Kingdom until 2020.

Participants in the conference include President of General Authority for Civil Aviation Eng. Abdullah bin Mohammed Rahimi.

Meanwhile, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-sheikh, the President of Al-Shoura (Consultative) Council received Australian Minister Smith and his accompanying delegation.

Dr. Al Alsheikh appreciated the Australian efforts to provide facilities to Saudi students on scholarship in universities and educational institutes of Australia, noting that the large number of Saudi students in Australia will increase and deepen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries and peoples.

During the meeting, they discussed all issues of common interest between the two countries as well as ways of enhancing parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

The Saudi Charitable Campaign for Relief of Victims of Earthquakes and Tsunami in East Asia will hand over 4 residential cities comprising of 449 housing units and two centers for orphans on May 25 to the victims of the tsunami in Indonesia.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Director of the Campaign's Regional Office in Indonesia Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Khalaf said that Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia Abdulrahman Al-Khayyat will hand over the housing units in a special ceremony to be held on this occasion, pointing out that the six projects come within the framework of 17 projects under construction by the Campaign for the afflicted people of the tsunami, noting that most of these projects are executed from donations provided by the Saudi government and people.

Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Hisham Nazer emphasized the depth and strength of ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt in all fields.

In a press statement on the sidelines of his current visit to Al-Sharqiah Governorate, Egypt, the ambassador said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia invests $19.5 billion in Egypt, pointing out that the Kingdom is the largest Arab trade partner to Egypt. In 2008, the volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached $3.569 billion dollars, representing 32% of the volume of trade between Egypt and the Arab countries.

"The value of Saudi exports to Egypt amounted to $2,642 million, while the value of Saudi imports from Egypt reached $926 million", the Saudi ambassador said.

The Premier of the German State of Hessen, Roland Koch, visited headquarters of Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation in Riyadh, according to a press release of SABIC issued.

The delegation met with Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thenayan Al-Saud, Chairman of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu and Chairman of SABIC, Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC Vice Chairman and CEO, and senior officials of the company.

The visit came as part of the official visit of Koch to the Kingdom from April 30 to May 4. His delegation included officials, economists and media persons.

The visit was aimed at developing trade and economic relations between the two countries.

The visitors listened to a presentation reflecting SABIC’s growth and evolution, as well as the advanced level of the Saudi petrochemical industries and achievements in the large industrial cities of Jubail and Yanbu. They also viewed a film documenting the success of SABIC.

The guests toured the SABIC permanent exhibition, which tells the story of its inception, various stages of growth, and growing contribution to the national development plans.

SABIC has operations in Germany under SABIC-Europe.

The Chairman of Shoura (Consultative) Council, Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh received Koch.

During the meeting, Sheikh Dr. Al Al-Sheikh stressed strong relations between the two countries in various domains, especially in parliamentary field.

On his part, Koch emphasized the strength of the bilateral relations linking Saudi Arabia and Germany, particularly in political and economic fields, also stressing the keenness on promoting these ties for the joint interests of the two countries.

The meeting was attended by a number of officials of the Shoura (Consultative) Council.