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.