The 13th session of the World Urban Forum - WUF13 held in Baku has once again demonstrated Azerbaijan's international prestige.
This was stated by MP Aydin Huseynov in an interview with Oxu.Az.
He noted that the forum brought together over 57,000 participants from 176 countries, making WUF13 the largest session in the history of the World Urban Forum.
After COP29, WUF13 became the second largest international event organized in our country.
Holding WUF13 in Baku showed that Azerbaijan has become an important international platform not only for regional but also for global issues. Our country plays an active role in promoting global solidarity, international cooperation, and multilateral dialogue.
One of the key innovations of the forum was the Leaders' Statements session. Initiated by President Ilham Aliyev, this was the first such session in the history of the World Urban Forum. Heads of state and government, high-level guests, and leaders of international organizations attended. They particularly noted Azerbaijan's high hospitality, the successful organization of the forum, and the effective dialogue environment created in Baku.
Huseynov also noted the importance of the Ministerial Meeting held within WUF13.
Chaired by Azerbaijan, the meeting was attended by ministers and deputy ministers representing about 70 countries. The final document, the "Chair's Summary," highly appreciated Azerbaijan's high level of organization, President Ilham Aliyev's visionary leadership, and the country's post-conflict reconstruction and restoration work.
Azerbaijan also shared its unique experience with the international community at WUF13. In particular, large-scale restoration and reconstruction in liberated territories, the "Great Return" Program, and the application of "smart city" and "smart village" concepts attracted participants' attention. This experience was assessed as an important example for post-conflict recovery countries.
Another important direction of the forum was environmental sustainability and green urbanism.
At a high-level forum initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, topics of clean air, green infrastructure, and sustainable cities were discussed. The "Baku Call for Breathing Cities" adopted at the end of the event can be considered a key call for the future urban agenda.
The establishment of the Baku City Award on Azerbaijan's initiative is another indicator of the country's contribution to global urban processes. Moreover, innovative approaches applied during WUF13 were accepted as a model for future forums. The signing of a letter of intent between the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture and the UN Habitat Program shows that Azerbaijan is forming advanced experience in this field.
Overall, WUF13 once again confirmed Azerbaijan's ability to host international events at a high level, its modern approaches to urban planning, and its capacity to contribute to global initiatives. The Baku Forum will be remembered not only as a successful international event but also as an important platform that left a lasting mark on the global urban agenda.
