Today WUF13 kicks off in Azerbaijan

Today, the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) kicks off in Azerbaijan.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the event will take place at the Baku Olympic Stadium.

The forum, which will run until May 22, is being held in close cooperation between the Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

WUF13 is considered one of the most important international platforms that will once again draw global attention to Azerbaijan. Over 40,000 people from 182 countries have registered to participate in the 13th session of the forum, which is a record in the forum's history. This testifies to the growing global prestige of the event and the high international interest in Azerbaijan.

The forum will feature discussions on sustainable urban development, climate change, urbanization, affordable housing, digital transformation, and "green city" models. WUF13 will also serve as an important dialogue platform bringing together government officials, city leaders, representatives of international organizations, experts, investors, and civil society from various countries.

Special attention at the event will be given to the large-scale reconstruction and urban development projects being implemented by Azerbaijan in Karabakh and East Zangazur. The "smart city" and "smart village" concepts being applied in the liberated territories, as well as the efforts to transform the region into a "green energy zone," will be presented to the international community as an advanced model in modern urbanization and environmental restoration.

WUF13 will once again demonstrate Azerbaijan's growing experience in organizing international events and the country's role on global cooperation platforms. Hosting the forum in Baku holds special significance both in terms of strengthening the country's international reputation and in terms of presenting Azerbaijan's policies on sustainable development and modern urban planning to the world.

During the event, simultaneous interpretation will be provided not only in the six official UN languages — Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish — but also in Azerbaijani and Turkish.

It should be noted that WUF13 will, for the first time in the forum's history, include a Leaders Summit segment. This innovation further enhances the political and strategic significance of the event.