BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. WUF13 will conclude
with a collective declaration called the Baku Challenge, WUF13
National Coordinator, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban
Planning and Architecture Anar Guliyev said at a panel session "D-8
High-Level Energy and Urban Dialogue" as part of the forum,
Trend reports.


According to him, the liberated areas are being developed as
green, smart and safe living spaces. Renewable energy, sustainable
transportation, digital management systems, ecological
infrastructure, "smart city" and "smart village" principles are
applied here.


Guliyev said that transforming cities into green and sustainable
places requires innovative solutions, strong partnerships and the
mobilization of resources: "International cooperation is of
particular importance in providing us with the tools and expertise
we need to achieve these goals.


The D8 platform can become an important catalyst for action by
supporting practical and result-oriented initiatives and
strengthening cooperation between stakeholders. The State Committee
for Urban Planning and Architecture is ready to contribute to
current and future D8 initiatives, and we hope that today's
discussions will bring us closer to our common goals," the official
noted.


He emphasized that WUF13 will conclude with a collective
declaration called the Baku Challenge, which will set the direction
for housing and sustainable urban development in the coming
years.


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.