On May 18, the opening ceremony of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) was held in Baku.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva attended the event.
President Ilham Aliyev and the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Anaclaudia Rossbach, welcomed heads of state and government, as well as heads of delegations participating in the session. Following the welcoming ceremony, a joint photo was taken. A video dedicated to the opening of WUF13, prepared by UN-Habitat, was screened, followed by a cultural program.
Addressing the event, the head of state highlighted the significance of the forum and Azerbaijan's commitment to urban development. "I would like to welcome all participants of the World Urban Forum to Baku and wish the forum success. We have likely achieved a record number of registered participants. According to information provided to me this morning, we have over 45,000 registered participants from 182 countries," President Ilham Aliyev stated.
The President emphasized that WUF13 is the second-largest international event hosted by Azerbaijan following COP29. He noted that Baku serves as a bridge between Europe and Asia, reflecting a unique synthesis of ancient heritage and modern urban planning. President Ilham Aliyev also touched upon the "Great Return" program, detailing the extensive reconstruction efforts in Garabagh and East Zangezur, including the restoration of Shusha and the rebuilding of cities like Aghdam, Zangilan, and Khankendi, which were destroyed during the 30-year occupation.
The World Urban Forum, established in 2001 by the United Nations, is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. It examines the most pressing issues facing the world today, including rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change, and policies. Hosted every two years, the forum serves as a high-level platform for cooperation between governments, NGOs, and urban experts to implement the New Urban Agenda.
The ceremony also featured video messages from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock. Nga Kor Ming, President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, and Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, also delivered speeches, praising Azerbaijan's hospitality and its leadership in urban transformation. Rossbach officially declared the session open, marking the start of global discussions on addressing the housing crisis and promoting inclusive, resilient cities.
