WUF13 was remembered for its innovative formats and broad participation. For the first time, a Leaders' Summit was organized within the framework of the forum at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev.
Modern.az reports that these thoughts were expressed by Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Urban Planning and Architecture Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, national coordinator for WUF13, at the official closing ceremony of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku.
“The participation of 27 heads of state and government, and leaders of international organizations demonstrated a strong political will towards sustainable urban planning and adequate housing provision,” Anar Guliyev said.
He added that the ministerial meeting held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijan and dedicated to the implementation of the New Urban Agenda was also one of the main stages of the forum.
“80 out of 111 countries were represented at the ministerial level at the event. The final documents of the forum recognized the right to housing as a human right, stated that climate change further deepens the housing crisis, and that urban problems require integrated planning.”
The committee chairman also noted that Azerbaijan's reconstruction experience in the post-conflict period was evaluated as an important contribution to global urban planning discussions:
“Baku's message is clear: the era of mere ambition is over. The next decade should be remembered for concrete results, sustainable communities, and a safe urban future for all,” Anar Guliyev noted.
