National coordinator Anar Guliyev announced this during his speech at the closing ceremony of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
Guliyev stated that the forum program was dedicated to discussing globally significant urban issues.
The forum included over 400 events, such as dialogues, special sessions, roundtables, assessments, and parallel events. Key sessions featured more than 400 speakers from 125 countries.
One of WUF13's main strengths was its inclusive nature, bringing together diverse groups and stakeholders to shape the future of cities and communities.
For the first time in forum history, an NGO Forum was organized, drawing around 800 participants from over 100 countries. This platform highlighted the role of civil society institutions, local communities, and initiative groups in building an inclusive, sustainable, and people-centered urban future.
The NGO Forum adopted the Baku Declaration on Sustainability and Global Cooperation.
A key innovation at WUF13 was the establishment of the Business Innovation Center, creating a unique opportunity for dialogue and collaboration among startups, private sector representatives, investors, innovators, government agencies, and development partners.
The forum covered over 34,000 square meters, with an exhibition area of more than 10,000 square meters. Over 50 organizations from 81 countries were represented at 122 exhibition stands.
At the Azerbaijani pavilion, topics such as COP29, the Baku 2040 Master Plan, the Great Return program, smart cities and villages, and sustainable urban development were presented.
Guliyev recalled that 2026 has been declared the Year of Urban Planning and Architecture in Azerbaijan.
Reconstruction projects in the liberated territories of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur were a focus for forum participants, with Guliyev noting that the scale and scope of these projects are rare globally.
More than 70 partner events were organized within WUF13, engaging over 150,000 people. Over 1,000 accredited media representatives covered the event, resulting in extensive global media coverage.
One significant outcome was the signing of the Letter of Intent on the application of the Baku Principles. Guliyev emphasized that WUF13 demonstrated that urban sustainability and competitiveness in the 21st century can only be ensured through strong international collaboration and joint action.
