The President of the Government inaugurates Mondiacult 2025 in Barcelona and calls for culture to be protected as a global public asset

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, in the family photo of the event (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has opened the Mondiacult 2025 conference, the world's largest gathering of culture ministers, organised by UNESCO and the Government of Spain, at the Barcelona International Convention Centre. Pedro Sánchez welcomed the delegates by reminding them that Spain is a country born of the encounter and understanding between cultures, and that Barcelona is "a city that is a story open to the world", the birthplace of universal creators and home to thousands of artists who have made it their home.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his speech at the event | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Mondiacult 2025 picks up the baton from Mexico, where culture was declared a global public good in 2022. In this new edition, the president explained that the six strategic pillars agreed at the time will be developed, and that Spain is proposing two new areas of work: culture for peace and the role of AI. He underlined that the conference does not merely list aspirations, but draws up "a tangible, measurable and verifiable roadmap" to strengthen the place of culture in the Agenda for the Future.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, greets the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, upon his arrival | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

International cooperation is stronger than isolation

Pedro Sánchez argued that international cooperation is always stronger than isolation, stressing that at a time when some people are turning their backs on multilateralism, Spain is reaffirming the need to keep it alive, close and useful for citizens, with culture at its centre. He also stressed that UNESCO demonstrates that cooperation works, protecting heritage, fostering reconciliation and providing forums where diverse languages and traditions come together to reaffirm that culture does not belong to one nation or one era.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, in the family photo of the event | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

The chief executive recalled that culture "is an open and unfinished dialogue between people, continents and generations", warning against those who want it to not distress or disturb. Culture is, above all, a commitment to freedom, dignity and memory, and also to peace, he said.

The President of the Government concluded his speech by calling for Mondiacult 2025 to be remembered as the meeting at which the international community strengthened the idea that culture is not a luxury or an ornament, but a necessity. "Culture is as necessary as clean air, dignity, equality and freedom. It is the story we share and the condition for building a fairer and more humane world," he said.

Non official translation