Morocco and Chile are looking to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and broaden their strategic partnership, as lawmakers from both countries met in Rabat on Tuesday to discuss ways to boost political dialogue and economic collaboration.
The talks brought together Deputy Speaker of Morocco's House of Councillors, Lahcen Haddad, and a delegation of Chilean lawmakers led by Maria Catalina del Real Mihovilovic, head of the Chile-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship Group.
According to a statement from Morocco's House of Councillors, Haddad said relations between Rabat and Santiago have undergone significant development since the historic 2004 visit of Mohammed VI to Chile, a trip widely regarded as a turning point in bilateral relations and the foundation of a strategic partnership between the two countries.
He highlighted the role played by parliamentary diplomacy in sustaining this momentum, citing increased exchanges of visits, the implementation of a memorandum of understanding between Morocco's House of Councillors and the Chilean Senate, and the growing activity of parliamentary friendship groups.
Haddad also underlined that cooperation with Chile forms part of Morocco's broader strategy of strengthening its presence in Latin America and the Pacific region. In this regard, he pointed to Morocco's observer status in the Pacific Alliance and the Atlantic initiatives launched by King Mohammed VI to promote cooperation between Africa and Latin America.
The Moroccan official identified several sectors with strong potential for expanded bilateral cooperation, including sustainable agriculture, agri-food industries, water management, renewable energy, the blue economy, logistics and the digital economy.
He further stressed the role of parliaments in supporting economic relations by promoting legislative frameworks that encourage investment and provide greater legal certainty for businesses.
During the meeting, Haddad welcomed Chile's positions in support of Morocco's territorial integrity, praising the country's backing of the Moroccan autonomy initiative for the Sahara dispute.
He specifically referred to a parliamentary resolution adopted in 2018 and a resolution passed by the Chilean Senate in January 2025, as well as statements by the Chilean government supporting the autonomy plan as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
For her part, Del Real Mihovilovic reaffirmed the Chilean Parliament's commitment to deepening relations of friendship and cooperation with Morocco's House of Councillors.
She praised the major development projects and institutional reforms undertaken by Morocco under King Mohammed VI's leadership and expressed her delegation's desire to expand parliamentary cooperation, exchange legislative expertise and strengthen coordination on issues of common interest.
The meeting reflects Morocco's growing diplomatic engagement with Latin America, where Rabat has increasingly sought to deepen political and economic partnerships while securing broader international support for its position on the Sahara issue.
