BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 20. Historical cities
represent our living memory, and during urban renewal processes,
this historical spirit must be protected in an absolute manner,
Inti Muñoz, Housing Minister of Mexico City, said, Trend reports.
He made the remark during an event titled "Rethinking Cultural
Heritage and Inclusive Urban Regeneration" held within the
framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in
Baku.
According to him, restricting cultural projects aimed at tourism
remains incorrect, yet a city should be structured in a way that
safeguards historical neighborhoods in a sustainable manner.
"Understanding the exchange value of a city carries great
importance. Where and how do people live, how can we protect the
city, and specifically, how is it possible to preserve historical
cities—when seeking answers to these questions, local communities
must be factored in without exception. Achieving public consensus
stands as one of the fundamental prerequisites within urban
planning processes," Muñoz noted.
Urban regeneration requires implementation in a manner that
maintains social, cultural, and economic balance, he emphasized.
"This approach prevents unintended social consequences while
simultaneously making an important contribution to economic
resilience," the minister concluded.
Today marks the fourth day of WUF13 in Baku.
The first day included a ministerial meeting dedicated to the
New Urban Agenda, a ministerial roundtable, assemblies for women
and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
prosperity. An official ceremony marking the raising of the UN and
Azerbaijani flags also took place.
The second day stood out for the inaugural Leaders' Summit,
featuring high-level discussions on the global housing crisis,
urbanization policy, and urban resilience. Concurrently, the
opening of the Mexico City pavilion took place, serving as a
significant platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.
The third day of WUF13 featured a comprehensive program of
events covering the global housing crisis, the formation of safe
and inclusive cities, climate resilience, artificial intelligence
and urban governance, green urbanization, social equity, and
sustainable transport.
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.
