Opening of 13th session of World Urban Forum takes place in Baku
Today, the opening of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) is taking place in Baku.
As reported by 1news.az, the main events of the forum will be organized at the Baku Olympic Stadium.
WUF13, which will run until May 22, is organized jointly by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the government of Azerbaijan.
The forum, considered one of the world's most authoritative urban platforms, will turn Baku into a center of global discussions on urban planning and sustainable development. The fact that more than 40 thousand participants from 182 countries have registered to attend the event is assessed as one of the highest figures in the history of WUF.
The forum will feature extensive discussions on issues of sustainable urban development, the impact of climate change on the urban environment, modern urban governance, digital solutions, affordable housing, and environmental approaches. WUF13 will serve as an important international platform bringing together officials, representatives of international organizations, mayors, experts, and representatives of civil society.
The event will also showcase reconstruction projects being implemented by Azerbaijan in the territories liberated from occupation. It is expected that the concepts of "smart city" and "smart village" applied in Karabakh and East Zangezur, as well as work carried out toward creating a "green energy zone," will attract particular interest from international participants.
Holding WUF13 in Baku once again demonstrates Azerbaijan's capabilities for successfully organizing international events and the country's active role in global cooperation initiatives. The forum is also considered important for presenting Azerbaijan's experience in sustainable development and modern urban planning to an international audience.
During the event, in addition to the official UN languages — Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish — simultaneous interpretation into Azerbaijani and Turkish will be provided.
It is noted that for the first time in the history of WUF, a Leaders' Summit has been included in the program. This is considered one of the innovations that further increases the international political and strategic significance of the forum.
