The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku is significant not only for its number of participants but also for showcasing Azerbaijan's international prestige, according to Professor Hikmat Babayev.
Speaking to Oxu.Az, the political science doctor emphasized that over 57,000 participants from 176 countries gathered at the forum. “This is not just a statistic; it reflects 176 countries’ attitude toward Azerbaijan,” he said.
WUF13 became the second largest international event in Azerbaijan after COP29. It featured the Leaders’ Summit and a Ministerial Meeting for the first time. The Baku City Award was established, and the “Baku Call for Breathable Cities” communiqué was adopted.
The professor noted that the forum also served as a platform to showcase Azerbaijan's urban planning traditions and historical heritage. President Ilham Aliyev highlighted ancient Gabala, Caucasian Albania, the Shirvanshahs state, and Ajami Nakhchivani's architectural school in his speech.
In conclusion, Babayev stated that Baku managed to create a new Baku standard in international prestige through this successful event.
