Catalan Parliament and California Senate renew sister-state ties after 40 years

Catalan Parliament Speaker Josep Rull and members of the Parliament Bureau welcomed a delegation from the California State Senate on Tuesday, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón. 

The meeting was part of events marking the 40th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the two legislatures. Rull and Limón both said they want to "project" the collaboration into the future. 

"We do not want this visit to be merely a celebration of what we signed 40 years ago, nor an exercise in nostalgia," Rull said. "We want it to be an opportunity to renew our commitment."

Rull said Catalonia and California will "continue deepening" their collaboration, adding that California is "a country and a republic" with which Catalonia shares values and concerns in fields such as research and innovation. 

Against a backdrop of "cooling transatlantic relations," Rull urged Catalonia and California to take a "step forward." 

"We believe we can serve as a benchmark for the entire world, we have that ambition, and it is only through such ambition that the world's great challenges can be overcome," he said.

Representatives of both bodies will hold working meetings on the political and social context in Catalonia and California, climate action, gender policies and the use of artificial intelligence.

Meeting with Catalan president

The delegation will continue its official visit on Thursday with a meeting with Catalan President Salvador Illa at the Palau de la Generalitat. 

It will also visit the Catalan fire service's command center to learn about Catalonia's forest fire management model. Limón said the challenge of fighting wildfires in a Mediterranean climate is shared by California and Catalonia.

The delegation will also tour the Sagrada Família and attend a performance at the Gran Teatre del Liceu.