A city is not just a collection of buildings, but a collection of human stories.
Modern.az reports that this was stated by Nga Kor Ming, President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, at a press conference of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku.
He noted that urbanization is rapidly changing societies, and while cities create economic opportunities, innovation, and cultural exchange, they also face challenges such as housing provision, climate risks, social inequality, infrastructure, and increasing demand for public services.
Nga Kor Ming emphasized that access to adequate housing remains one of the most pressing issues, especially for vulnerable communities:
“For this reason, the theme of this year's forum, “Housing the World: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Communities,” is extremely relevant. This reminds us that humanity is our greatest strength.”
According to him, while technology can rapidly disseminate information, it cannot replace the trust and wisdom needed to build a community.
The President of the UN-Habitat Assembly stated that discussions within the forum will focus on practical approaches to make cities more inclusive and sustainable. He noted that important exchanges of ideas will take place in the field of housing policy and financing.
“The future belongs not to those who predict it, but to those who build it,” Nga Kor Ming added.
He stated that the ministerial meeting on the New Urban Agenda held in Baku demonstrated strong political will ahead of the high-level interim review to be held in New York.
In his speech, Nga Kor Ming also referred to an Azerbaijani proverb:
“Drop by drop, a lake forms; flowing, a river forms.”
He also emphasized that WUF13 is an important platform for transitioning from dialogue to real results, from vision to practical action.
