BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 18. The 13th session of
the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku stands as a landmark event
not only for Azerbaijan but for the entire global urban planning
community, Anar Guliyev, National Coordinator for WUF13 and
Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, said, Trend reports.
He made the remark during the official opening press conference
held on the second day of the forum.
Guliyev noted that by bringing together government
representatives, mayors, international organizations, financial
institutions, academia, civil society, youth, women, the private
sector, and local communities, Baku has transformed into a premier
global platform for shaping a better urban future.
The chairman emphasized that Azerbaijan's journey to hosting
WUF13 began years ago. Since 2021, the country has consistently
organized national urban forums, which established a comprehensive
platform for broad dialogue on sustainable municipal
development.
"These national forums enabled us to strengthen internal
coordination, define clear priorities, exchange expertise, and
systematically align our domestic policies with the New Urban
Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Guliyev
underscored. "Most importantly, they fostered a mature culture of
inclusive urban dialogue."
According to the committee chairman, these domestic milestones
served as the structural foundation for Azerbaijan's journey toward
hosting WUF13, demonstrating the country’s firm commitment to
urbanization, multilateral cooperation, and practical execution. He
noted that hosting WUF13 in Baku directly reflects the deep trust
placed in Azerbaijan by the international community and the United
Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Guliyev highlighted that Azerbaijan is currently undergoing
large-scale transformational processes focused on urban
modernization, the expansion of green infrastructure, the
optimization of public services, affordable housing provision,
climate resilience reinforcement, and the construction of smart,
inclusive communities.
Furthermore, he turned attention to the extensive post-conflict
restoration and reconstruction operations being carried out in the
liberated territories, describing them as some of the most
ambitious urban renewal projects of the modern era.
"Once-destroyed cities and villages are being completely rebuilt
from the ground up based on the core principles of sustainability,
smart urban planning, green development, and human dignity. This is
not merely a restoration process; it is the blueprint for an
entirely new model of urbanization," Guliyev stated.
The national coordinator added that WUF13 provides a critical
window for Azerbaijan to share its unique structural experiences
while simultaneously drawing on best practices from global
peers.
Guliyev disclosed that as of May 17, a total of 42,367
participants from 182 countries had registered for the forum. On
the very first day of proceedings, the active attendance on-site
reached 21,108 participants.
The chairman concluded by noting that the "Urban Expo"
exhibition, organized alongside the forum, successfully unites
national governments, municipal administrations, international
bodies, academic circles, innovators, and private sector leaders to
showcase cutting-edge urban achievements and sustainable
solutions.
