Conclusion of the “Congress of the Future” on the Major Challenges Humanity Faces
The “Congress of the Future”, organized on December 17 and 18, 2024 at the Parliament in Rabat by the two Houses of Parliament, the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors, in collaboration with the Future Encounters Foundation, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate of the Republic of Chile, closed its proceedings on Wednesday December 18, 2024.
The proceedings of the Congress culminated in the issuance of the Rabat Declaration “Working for international cooperation in the service of the future,” in which participants expressed their sincere thanks and deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, hailing His vision and leadership that contributed to positioning the Kingdom of Morocco as a reliable partner in promoting international cooperation and dialogue, strengthening sustainable development, and facilitating the exchange of knowledge.
They also formulated a series of recommendations on the major challenges facing humanity, which were discussed during the event in nine high-level debate sessions. These exchanges brought together ministers, officials, parliamentarians and academics from Morocco, Chile, and several friendly countries, as well as Moroccan students and researchers.
At the inaugural session on the first day, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, Speaker of the House of Representatives, stressed that the organization of this Congress in the Kingdom of Morocco, for the first time in an African country, strengthens Morocco's position as a center of solid scientific reflection on issues relating to the countries and peoples of Africa and the Arab world, as well as in the field of South-South cooperation. He also highlighted Morocco's unique position both on the African continent and within the political, parliamentary and economic communities and blocs of Latin America.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives explained that the topics on the agenda for this edition represent the major challenges facing humanity, both in the present and in the future. These challenges, he noted, are of considerable gravity, complexity and intensification. He stressed that Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, has much to offer in the fight against the challenges and dilemmas of the 21st century, as demonstrated by its green economy projects, its active role in promoting regional and international peace, and its solidarity initiatives towards its African brothers.
For his part, Hon. Mohamed Ould Errachid, Speaker of the House of Councilors, stated that the hosting of this session of the Congress by the Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms the leadership position and confidence enjoyed by our country on the international and regional scales, under the wise and enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him. This event also testifies to the strength and depth of the distinguished and historic relations that unite Morocco and Chile.
Hon. Mohamed Ould Errachid also pointed out that the destiny of humanity is common, and that the challenges facing human existence today transcend traditional borders. They are challenges that transcend geographical limits and local and cultural particularities. They are existential issues that touch the very essence of humanity, not mere technical questions that can be resolved by mathematical equations or sectoral policies.
The inaugural session was marked by speeches from several guests. On this occasion, Hon. Karol Cariola, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Chile, welcomed the organization of this Congress in the Kingdom of Morocco, and expressed the hope that this experience would be repeated in years to come, so that this meeting would become a model for other countries to follow. Besides, Hon. Karol Cariola emphasized that the aim of this meeting, which focuses on issues affecting humanity, is to reflect collectively on the future, strengthen networks between Latin America and Africa, and promote the exchange of ideas and opinions in the common interest.
For his part, H.E. Walker Matías, Deputy Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Chile, emphasized that the aim of the Congress is to open an inclusive debate on common themes and challenges, while involving other countries. He also added that Chile and Morocco are making a significant contribution to building a world order capable of preserving peace and development, sharing common values in various fields. He also called for increased trade between the two countries, and greater investment in academic and university cooperation.
For his part, Mr. Alberto Van Klaveren, Minister of Foreign Relations of the Republic of Chile, emphasized that this space reflects the common desire of Chile and Morocco to promote and strengthen bilateral ties, established over 60 years ago, to build a shared future and to face future challenges together. He praised the role played by parliamentary and scientific diplomacy in this context.
The President of the Andean Parliament, H.E. Gustavo Pacheco Villar, praised the importance of the Moroccan Parliament's hosting of this major scientific event, which forms part of the strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy. He also expressed his admiration for the development projects underway in the Kingdom of Morocco, calling for joint action to draw up a forward-looking roadmap, based on the conclusions and recommendations of this Congress.
For his part, Mr. Francisco Chahuán, member of the “Challenges of the Future” Commission, emphasized the importance of organizing this Congress, which represents an opportunity to build a lasting platform to reflect on the challenges of our common future and establish a cooperation axis uniting the efforts of all players. He also highlighted the progress made by Chile in the field of future challenges, notably through the creation of the “Challenges of the Future” Commission, which has worked to develop an advanced legislative framework for cybersecurity and digital sovereignty, as well as to put in place a law institutionalizing the challenges linked to artificial intelligence. He also called for the continued promotion of South-South cooperation and joint action to find solutions for building a more equitable future.
Mr. Guido Giraldi, founder of the Congress of the Future and Vice-President of the Future Encounters Foundation in Chile, underlined the importance of the themes addressed by the Congress, particularly in an era marked by digital revolution. He also stressed the need to adapt to this revolution and to regulate the use of artificial intelligence.
In the same regard, he called for continued efforts to make Africa and Latin America active forces in the new world order, and to build a collective project to meet the challenges of the future.
On the first day of the Congress, participants held a number of sessions on a variety of topics. In the first session, they examined the theme of the world of the future and its various indicators, highlighting the risks posed to humanity by artificial intelligence, climate change, extreme individualism, and conflicts of interest. They also discussed the role of legislators in meeting these challenges.
The second session focused on climate change, migration, and the repercussions of these phenomena, both in Morocco and in other countries around the world. In this context, a call was made to share expertise and experiences between Africa and Latin America in order to overcome the challenges ahead and build a better future. At this session, speakers presented the experiences of Morocco and Chile in water management and the fight against climate change. The conclusions of reports drawn up by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were also highlighted.
In the third session, participants addressed the risks and threats to global peace and security posed by cybercrime and the spread of false information via social networking platforms. This session also provided an opportunity to highlight Morocco's efforts to consolidate security and peace, and to meet the challenges that stand in the way of progress and prosperity, particularly in Africa.
In the fourth session, participants discussed food security issues, looking at the relationship between food security and climate change from different angles. A call was made for innovative policies to guarantee food security and health justice, both locally and internationally. This session also highlighted the importance of the Green Morocco Plan, which supports sustainable agriculture and guarantees food security in Morocco, while emphasizing the need to invest in food and agricultural systems to achieve sustainable development.
The fifth session focused on the theme of partnership between Africa and Latin America, during which speakers highlighted the situation of the “Global South” and the particularities of each country in the face of common challenges such as security, stability, and development. The session highlighted the role of science diplomacy in promoting cooperation and the exchange of expertise between legislative institutions in the two regions, as well as in the design of sustainable public policies.
In the sixth session that covered global health challenges, speakers highlighted the challenges facing the world in the field of health and ways to overcome them, the strengthening of health justice and the need to reform health systems to ensure equal access to medical care. The experiences of Morocco and Chile in the health sector were also presented, highlighting the importance of combining scientific innovation with institutional coordination.
The seventh session addressed the theme of energy transition and its economic and environmental perspectives, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that this transformation represents for Morocco and Chile. Speakers highlighted the similarities and differences between the two countries, while exploring future strategies to accelerate energy transition in these contexts. In this regard, emphasis was placed on the need to strengthen international cooperation to achieve energy transition goals, promote technological innovation to improve energy efficiency, and build infrastructure resilience. In addition, the adoption of integrated policies that promote environmental and social justice was recommended.
The eighth session focused on the 21st century transformations in human relations and social links, highlighting the changes introduced by technology, the digital revolution and social networks, as well as their impacts on societies, individuals, identities and divisions caused by the data economy. Participants emphasized the importance of prioritizing education, training, and results-based teaching methodologies as key tools to address the challenges of the digital revolution. They also discussed the need to develop artificial intelligence systems, improve digital literacy, regulate the use of technology and social networks, and put in place appropriate legislative frameworks.
At the ninth session, speakers focused on the enormous evolution of artificial intelligence, which opens up new perspectives, particularly in the economic and social fields, without neglecting the ethical and social challenges associated with it. Participants called for work to achieve a balance between technological and social progress, with particular emphasis on the integration of artificial intelligence into education and teaching.
At the tenth session, speakers discussed the theme of gender tolerance and equality, presenting the experiences of Morocco and Chile in this area. They also stressed the importance of inclusive public policies and strengthening the role of legislation to address the effects of discrimination and violence against women.
The last session of the Congress was devoted to the theme of Africa as the continent of the future, with a particular focus on the significant transformations that are taking place in the African continent at various levels, as well as on Morocco’s role in promoting development and strengthening regional integration.
At the end of this Congress, the Rabat Declaration "Working for international cooperation in the service of the future" was read.
