BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. Located at the
crossroads of East and West, North and South, Azerbaijan has
managed to turn its geographical location into a strategic
advantage, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said,
Trend reports.


He made the remark at the event “Cities at the Heart of
Connectivity: Urban Regeneration and Regional Cooperation,” held in
Baku as part of the WUF13.


“We no longer view our role simply as that of a transit country,
but as a hub for regional integration, sustainable urban
development, and interregional cooperation.


Our experience shows that transport links, infrastructure, and
urban development are closely intertwined,” he said.


The minister added that modern transport corridors have a direct
impact on the formation of settlements, industrial development,
labor migration, investment flows, housing demand, and climate
resilience.


The third day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum
(WUF13) is underway in Baku.


On the first day, a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New
Urban Agenda, a roundtable of ministers, assemblies of women and
civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
well-being were held. A ceremony for raising the flags of the
United Nations and Azerbaijan also took place within the framework
of the forum.


The second day of the forum drew attention with the first-ever
Leaders Summit. High-level discussions on the global housing
crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience were held that
day. At the same time, the Mexico City pavilion was inaugurated
within the framework of WUF13. The pavilion was presented as an
important platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.


WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered
participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held
under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and
communities,” the forum brings together governments, international
organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to
strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban
development.