Manama: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Tuesday evening unveiled his domestic and international action plan, pledging to continue the endeavours of his predecessors to achieve comprehensive development, justice for all citizens and opportunities for people’s legitimate ambitions.
“I care about every single citizen and there is no discrimination between the people or the regions,” King Salman said in his address to the nation.
The monarch who assumed power on January 23 following the death of his brother King Abdullah said that he looked forward to contribution of all citizens in the service of the nation” and affirmed commitment to eliminate the reasons for divergences and threats to national unity.
The media have a major role in supporting such efforts and should not incite divisions within society.
“Media must help in the building process and in reinforcing unity and national cohesion,” he said.
King Salman said that his directives to all officials were to help ensure Saudis lived in dignity.
“Everybody should be in the service of the citizen and we have instructed the monitoring agencies to contribute to the elimination of corruption and to protecting public funds,” he said.
He added that security was crucial for the nation’s stability and prosperity and that the nation would not tolerate their abuse by anyone.
The monarch said that the high oil prices in the recent years had a positive impact on the country’s economy, adding that there would greater efforts to reinforce the economy, diversify the sources of income, provide employment opportunities in the private and public sectors, and motivate the small and medium industries.
The state will work on limiting the effect of lower oil prices on the development process, he said.
“There will significant achievements in the years to come in order to reinforce the industrial and service sectors,” he said.
Health services will be improved by building more health centres and affordable hospitals throughout the kingdom and urgent solutions to provide adequate houses for the citizens will be put forward, he said.
Referring to the kingdom’s foreign policy, King Salman said that Saudi Arabia will remain committed to international agreements, treaties and covenants, including the principle of sovereignty and the rejection of interference in its domestic affairs.
Saudi Arabia will continue to advocate the Arab and Islamic issues at internationals forums, he added.
“We will continue to work on achieving Arab and Islamic solidarity and working together to confront lurking threats and challenges,” he said. “We will also work on achieving security and stability throughout the world and promoting the values of justice and peace and dialogues and solving problems through diplomatic means while rejecting force and violence,” he said.
King Salman said Saudi Arabia would continue to work with the international community on combating extremism and fanaticism in all their forms and regardless of their origins.
“We are part of this world, and we live the problems and challenges it is facing. We all share this responsibility, and we will contribute, God willing, actively to the development of solutions to many of the world’s pressing issues, including the issues of the environment and sustainable development. We will continue in this regard to work with international organisations, institutions and partners,” King Salman said.
