President Ilham Aliyev received United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on May 21 to discuss bilateral cooperation and the successful hosting of major international forums in Baku.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the head of state expressed gratitude to the UN leadership for their support in organizing the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13). President Ilham Aliyev noted that the Government of Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat worked effectively as a single team to ensure the event's success.
Highlighting the scale of the event, President Ilham Aliyev stated that WUF13 is the second most significant global gathering hosted in Azerbaijan following COP29 in terms of participant numbers. He emphasized that Azerbaijan maintains a productive partnership with UN-Habitat and remains committed to active participation in future sessions of the World Urban Forum.
Amina Mohammed conveyed the greetings of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the head of state. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his appreciation for the greetings and asked the Deputy Secretary-General to reciprocate his regards to Antonio Guterres. Congratulating the President on the successful execution of WUF13, Mohammed remarked on the high-level participation of international guests and praised the urban development in Baku, noting how the capital beautifully integrates historical heritage with modern architectural standards.
The meeting also touched upon the extensive restoration and reconstruction work carried out by Azerbaijan in its liberated territories. It was noted that Azerbaijan's post-conflict development model serves as an exemplary framework for other regions, and the importance of sharing this experience through UN channels was emphasized. Furthermore, the parties recalled the success of the "ASAN service" model, which has received the UN Public Service Award and is currently being implemented as a best practice in various countries across Africa and Asia.
The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization, established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, and climate change. By hosting WUF13, Azerbaijan further solidifies its role as a central hub for international diplomacy and sustainable development initiatives within the UN framework.
