The official opening ceremony of the Eighth Session of the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders and UCLG World Congress took place yesterday evening in the Auditorium of the Palais des Arts in Tangier.
In a message addressed to participants, His Majesty King Mohammed VI welcomed local and regional leaders to Morocco and presented territorial governance as a strategic instrument for reducing inequalities, strengthening trust between citizens and institutions, and translating international commitments into concrete improvements in people’s lives. He linked the Congress theme to Morocco’s experience with decentralisation and advanced regionalisation, describing them as pillars of the country’s development model.
Mounir Laymouri, Mayor of Tangier, highlighted the growing importance of cities and regions in addressing global challenges. He presented UCLG’s mission as a bridge between global ambitions and everyday realities, arguing that democracy, participation and social cohesion are built closest to citizens. “The challenge is no longer limited to providing basic services but has become our collective ability to provide higher quality, more effective, equitable and sustainable services,” he stressed.
Lee Jang-Woo, President of UCLG World and Mayor of Daejeon, linked Tangier to the mandate that began in Daejeon in 2022 with the adoption of the UCLG Pact for the Future of Humanity. He highlighted the adoption of the UN Pact for the Future in 2024, particularly Action 55(e), as a milestone in the recognition of local and regional governments within the multilateral system. Calling for stronger cooperation among cities and regions, he also placed care at the centre of the future agenda. “Local governments are no longer secondary participants in global affairs; they have become essential actors capable of responding directly to people’s needs and transforming global commitments into practical action,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with a celebration of Moroccan culture and a shared call to advance a new generation of local public services rooted in proximity, inclusion and cooperation.