BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17. The opening ceremony
of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) is taking
place in Baku today, Trend reports.


The main events of the forum will be organized at the Baku
Olympic Stadium.


Running until May 22, WUF13 is jointly organized by the United
Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Government
of Azerbaijan.


Considered one of the world's most prestigious urbanization
platforms, the forum will transform Baku into the global hub for
discussions on urban planning and sustainable development. More
than 40,000 participants from 182 countries have registered for the
event, making it one of the highest turnout figures in WUF
history.


Extensive discussions during the forum will center on the
sustainable development of cities, the impact of climate change on
urban environments, modern city management, digital solutions,
accessible housing, and ecological approaches. WUF13 serves as a
vital international platform, bringing together government
officials, representatives of international organizations, mayors,
experts, and civil society advocates.







Azerbaijan's reconstruction projects in its liberated
territories will also be presented at the event. The "smart city"
and "smart village" concepts, as well as the ongoing initiatives
toward establishing a "green energy zone" in Karabakh and East
Zangezur, are expected to draw particular interest from
international participants.


Hosting WUF13 in Baku once again demonstrates Azerbaijan's
capacity to successfully host major international events and
highlights the country's active role in global cooperation
initiatives. The forum is also considered significant for
showcasing Azerbaijan's experience in sustainable development and
modern urban planning to an international audience.


Simultaneous interpretation will be provided throughout the
event in the official UN languages—Arabic, Chinese, English,
French, Russian, and Spanish—as well as in Azerbaijani and
Turkish.


Notably, for the first time in the history of the World Urban
Forum, the program includes a Leaders' Summit, marking a major
innovation that further elevates the forum's international
political and strategic significance.