Saudi crown prince chairs development council meeting

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs the Council of Economic and Development Affairs meeting at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Updated 23 May 2018
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Saudi crown prince chairs development council meeting

  • The council reviewed a number of items including performance of the general budget for the first quarter of this year
  • The crown prince also attended a Saudi Cabinet session in which King Salman briefed the government on his phone call with Abbas

JEDDAH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.

The council, of which he is chairman, reviewed a number of economic and developmental issues, including a report and presentation by the Finance Ministry on the performance of the general budget for the first quarter of this year.

The council also discussed a presentation by the Ministry of Economy and Planning on the state of the national and international economies during the first quarter of this year. 

Meanwhile, the crown prince was reassured of the health of Mahmoud Abbas after calling the Palestinian president, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday. Abbas was hospitalized in the West Bank due to complications after minor surgery last week.

The crown prince attended a Saudi Cabinet session in which King Salman briefed the government on his phone call with Abbas.


GCC secretary general receives China’s special envoy to Middle East

Updated 09 March 2026
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GCC secretary general receives China’s special envoy to Middle East

  • Jun praised the GCC states’ prudent domestic, regional, and international policies, which have established the council as a reliable and important partner for China

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi received China’s special envoy for the Middle East Issue, Zhai Jun, at the General Secretariat headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, Al-Budaiwi expressed appreciation for China’s condemnation of Iranian attacks on GCC states and for Beijing’s efforts with all parties to halt the conflict and end the escalation, according to a General Secretariat statement. 

Jun praised the GCC states’ prudent domestic, regional, and international policies, which have established the council as a reliable and important partner for China. He added that the GCC’s commitment to restraint during the crisis reflects these policies.

The meeting also reviewed preparations for the upcoming China-GCC summit later this year and discussed progress in negotiations toward a free trade agreement between the two sides.