The Leaders Summit was held in Baku on May 18 as part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), bringing together high-ranking officials to discuss the future of global urbanization.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the event featured speeches from Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Iotova, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini, Mauritian President Prithvirajsing Roopun, Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya Mohamed Yunus al-Menfi, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Zhang Guoqing, Vice President of Zimbabwe Constantino Chiwenga, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment of Slovakia Tomáš Taraba, Chairman of the State Committee for Construction under the President of Turkmenistan Deryageldi Orazov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction of Cambodia Say Sam Al, Deputy Prime Minister of Albania Albana Koçiu, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba, and Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan, Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
The speakers expressed their deep gratitude to the leadership of Azerbaijan for the high-level organization of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum and the hospitality shown in the capital. They highly praised the transformation of Baku into a significant center for international dialogue under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. Furthermore, the participants commended the large-scale restoration and reconstruction work carried out in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan within a short period. Speakers emphasized that WUF13 serves as a vital platform for discussing existing challenges in urban planning and proposing innovative ideas for sustainable development.
The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), one of the United Nations' most prestigious global urbanization platforms, is being held in Baku from May 17 to 22. Organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) under the theme "Housing for All: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Settlements," the forum is considered a premier international venue for addressing global issues such as urban planning, sustainable development, and inclusive living environments. The selection of Azerbaijan as a host underscores the country's growing role in global urban policy and its commitment to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, particularly regarding the resilient rebuilding of the Garabagh region.
