The Cabinet meeting, which was chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, urged the National Traffic Safety Committee to review the system and submit proposals to the Cabinet after five years.
“The new system will open the field for private technical companies and workshops, including the existing company, to provide vehicle inspection services across the Kingdom,” the Cabinet decision said.
The Cabinet also discussed the latest regional and international developments and called for the creation of an atmosphere conducive to restarting Middle East peace talks on the basis of international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.
The meeting also referred to the Saudi-American Business Opportunity Forum, which was held in Chicago recently in order to strengthen economic cooperation, expand trade exchange, boost business partnership and encourage mutual investment.
The Cabinet also commended UNESCO’s decision to host the ceremony for the distribution of King Abdullah International Prize for Translation on May 11 in appreciation of King Abdullah’s efforts to promote cultural dialogue between nations.
The Cabinet noted the outcome of the first regional seminar in Riyadh to combat drugs and called for joint efforts to fight “the plague that destroys nations and obstructs development.”
Spelling out other decisions taken by the Cabinet, Minister of Culture and Information Abdul Aziz Khoja said Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has been authorized to hold talks with his Eritrean counterpart to sign a general cooperation agreement.
Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari will hold talks with officials in Hong Kong to sign an agreement for cooperation in higher education while Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf will sign an accord with Malta for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion.
Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah has been assigned to sign a memorandum of understanding with Canada and another with Sweden for cooperation in health affairs.
Meanwhile, Hashim Yamani, president of the newly established King Abdullah Nuclear and Renewable Energy City, Walid Abulfaraj, its vice president for nuclear energy, and Khaled Al-Suleiman, vice president of renewable energy, took an oath before the king at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Yamani said the establishment of the new city would strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a leading energy supplier. He said the city would also contribute to using nuclear and renewable energy instead of oil to generate electricity and operate desalination plants.
“The new city will contribute to achieving sustainable development in the Kingdom using related research and industries for peaceful purposes. This will lead to raising the standard of living and improving the quality of life,” said Yamani.
Spelling out the major activities of the city, the president said it would support scientific research, development activities and the transfer of modern technology; set out the Kingdom’s policies with respect to peaceful use of atomic and renewable energy; encourage the private sector to carry out research and train national cadre.
