The participation of a record number of representatives — nearly 60,000 people from various countries of the world — at WUF13 once again demonstrated that Azerbaijan has gained great prestige as a reliable partner and a platform for global dialogue, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova said at today’s session of the Milli Majlis, APA reports.
“Over the past few days, Azerbaijan has once again been at the center of the international community’s attention. The city of Baku hosted the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum. Holding such a prestigious international event in our country has become another success of the far-sighted domestic and foreign policy implemented by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The participation of a record number of representatives — nearly 60,000 people from various countries of the world — in the session once again demonstrated that Azerbaijan has gained great prestige as a reliable partner and a platform for global dialogue. In his speech at the opening of the forum, President Ilham Aliyev spoke about the projects implemented in the field of modern urban planning in Baku and other regions of our country. The President especially noted that urban planning traditions in Azerbaijan have deep historical roots. Over centuries, a rich urban culture has been formed here, and unique architectural monuments have been created. Today, Azerbaijan not only preserves its historical heritage, but also applies modern standards of sustainable development and advanced urban planning approaches. In this regard, the restoration and reconstruction works carried out in the liberated territories are of exceptional importance. In Karabakh and East Zangezur, not only new residential areas are being built, but also a modern living environment is being created. It is noteworthy that 2026 has been declared the ‘Year of Urban Planning and Architecture’ in our country. In general, the holding of the World Urban Forum precisely during such a period shows that urban planning, architecture, and sustainable development issues occupy an important place not only in Azerbaijan’s domestic agenda, but also in its international activities,” the speaker noted.
