Azerbaijan has successfully hosted the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), demonstrating its high organizational capabilities and creative approach to global urban challenges, social housing, and urbanization issues. Throughout the six-day forum, Azerbaijan's experience based on scientific and technological innovations, particularly the "Smart City", "Smart Village", and "Green Zone" projects implemented in the liberated territories, received special acclaim from the international community.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that although the forum has concluded, its global resonance continues. Leading media resources worldwide have published a series of articles extensively covering the conceptual speech of President Ilham Aliyev at the opening ceremony, the country's exemplary hosting of the forum, and its achievements in urban planning. The international press characterized WUF13 as a crucial intellectual and political platform shaping the global urban agenda and a strategic venue where the "Baku Call" against modern urbanization crises was declared. Topics discussed at the forum, such as climate resilience, housing accessibility, and digital transformation, became headlines in leading global news agencies as urgent issues determining the future of humanity. The innovative solutions presented once again confirmed that Azerbaijan is not only a host but also an exporter of vital ideas and strategies in addressing global challenges.
From the very first day, WUF13 was met with great interest by the Turkish media. Prominent media organizations of the brotherly country, such as Anadolu Agency, Haber Global, TRT Haber, CNN Turk, Yeni Safak, Milliyet, Turkiye Gazetesi, Aksam, Star, and Ihlas News Agency, presented WUF13 as an important platform for the region and the world. The articles emphasized that Baku has become the center of international discussions on urbanization, smart cities, green energy, sustainable transport, and the fight against climate change. The Turkish media also highlighted Azerbaijan's professionalism and high logistical capabilities in organizing large-scale international events.
Leading Iranian media outlets, including IRNA, ISNA, Mehr News, Tasnim, Fars News, ILNA, YJC, and Bultan News, also evaluated the forum in Baku as a significant opportunity for international discussions on urban planning problems in developing countries. Iranian publications drew attention to the importance of the Baku forum in terms of regional cooperation, sustainable urban development, and ecological approaches. The articles emphasized that Azerbaijan's "Green City" concept and modern urbanization practices were among the main focuses of the forum.
The Pakistani media also provided extensive coverage of the Forum from day one. The friendly country's APP Agency, Radio Pakistan, DND, The News, Nation, and Tribune publications presented the forum as an important platform for urbanization challenges and international partnerships. The reports noted that the Pakistani delegation presented its urban development strategies and urbanization projects in Baku.
Russian agencies such as TASS, RIA Novosti, Interfax, as well as Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Vestnik Kavkaza, highlighted Baku's growing role in the international urbanization agenda. It was also emphasized that by hosting WUF13 shortly after COP29 in November 2024, Azerbaijan once again demonstrated its capability to host global international events. The reports stated that the outcomes of WUF13 would reshape international urban management standards in the near future.
Indian publications such as The Hindu, Times of India, Hindustan Times, and the ANI Agency rated WUF13 as one of the main international platforms for global urban development policy. The Indian media emphasized that Azerbaijan organized the event at a high level, and Baku has become an important center for international cooperation in urbanization.
Kazakhstan's Kazinform Agency, Kazpravda, 24.kz, and Egemen Qazaqstan publications characterized WUF13 as an essential cooperation and experience-sharing platform for the Central Asian region.
Uzbekistan's UZA Agency, Kun.uz, Gazeta.uz, and Yuz.uz publications also wrote about the significant role of the Baku forum in discussing sustainable urban development and innovative urbanization models.
Georgian outlets Interpressnews, 1TV, and BM.ge evaluated the forum as an important international platform for the countries of the region.
Ukrainian agencies Ukrinform, RBC-Ukraine, and Interfax-Ukraine drew attention to urban reconstruction, sustainable infrastructure, and digital urbanization within the framework of the forum.
Egyptian publications Al-Ahram, Youm7, and Al Masry Al Youm emphasized the significance of the forum for the Middle East and African regions.
The UAE's WAM Agency, Al Ittihad, and Emarat Al Youm newspapers, as well as Saudi Arabia's SPA Agency, Al-Riyadh, and Okaz publications, noted that Baku has become one of the main discussion venues of the global urban planning agenda.
China's Xinhua, Indonesia's Antara, Malaysia's Bernama, Vietnam's VNA, the US's Associated Press, France's AFP, Germany's DPA, Italy's ANSA, Spain's EFE agencies, the UK's BBC platform, as well as Tajikistan's Khovar, Kyrgyzstan's Kabar, Hungary's MTI, and Bulgaria's BTA agencies also published extensive materials on WUF13.
Thus, the materials published in the international media emphasized that WUF13 was a decisive turning point in the history of modern urbanization. From the first day to the last, the world press kept the innovative solutions presented by Azerbaijan on green development, smart cities, and inclusive housing policy in the spotlight as a main priority of the global agenda. This widespread interest from the global media shows that the Baku platform has become a unique center of dialogue uniting the interests of all countries, regardless of their level of economic development, while Azerbaijan has once again confirmed its status as a strategic center shaping the sustainable urban models of the future.
