Official opening ceremony, Leaders’ Statements, press conference and Urban Expo debut mark start of WUF13
Baku, May 19, AZERTAC
A series of key events took place on May 18 as part of the second day of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), hosted in Baku.
The official opening ceremony of WUF13 took place with the participation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.
Ahead of the ceremony, President Ilham Aliyev and Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), welcomed heads of state and government, alongside leaders of delegations attending the session. The welcoming ceremony was followed by an official group photograph.
The ceremony continued with the screening of a film produced by UN-Habitat to mark the opening of WUF13, followed by a cultural programme.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the event, noting that more than 45,000 participants from 182 countries had registered for WUF13. In his remarks, the President stated: “Since 2022, together with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, we have organised three national urban forums in Azerbaijan in cities that remained under occupation for many years - Aghdam, Zangilan and Khankendi.”
Reflecting on the reconstruction process undertaken in the territories liberated from occupation over the past five years, President Ilham Aliyev also spoke in detail about the Great Return Programme, which remains among the Azerbaijani government’s key priorities.
The ceremony also featured video messages delivered for the occasion by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock.
Leaders’ Statements followed the official opening ceremony, with representatives of participating countries expressing their appreciation to President Ilham Aliyev for hosting WUF13 and commending both the high standard of organisation of the Forum and Azerbaijan’s broader initiatives in the field of urban development.
The day’s programme also included a press conference dedicated to the opening of WUF13. Participating in the briefing were Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat); Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and National Coordinator of WUF13; and Hon. Nga Kor Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government of Malaysia and current President of the UN-Habitat Assembly. The briefing highlighted a broad range of issues related to sustainable and inclusive urban development, including access to affordable housing, the pressures associated with rapid urbanisation, reconstruction in post-conflict areas, smart urban planning and the importance of international cooperation, drawing interest from local and international media representatives.
The press conference was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the opening of Urban Expo, attended by Anacláudia Rossbach and Anar Guliyev. Dedicated to innovative approaches in urban development and housing, Urban Expo features nearly 130 pavilions representing 260 organisations and institutions from 82 countries, including national pavilions from 41 countries. One of the main attractions of the exhibition is the Azerbaijan pavilion, which, at 1,500 square metres, is the largest on display and has attracted significant interest from participants and visitors alike.
Diverse Participation, Shared Vision
Over the first two days, WUF13 brought together more than 25,000 participants from 162 countries in both in-person and online formats, positioning the Forum among the largest editions of the World Urban Forum held to date. Overall, registrations have now reached nearly 60,000 participants from 182 countries. Bringing together participants from a wide range of regions and sectors, WUF13 continues to reinforce its role as a leading global platform for dialogue and action on sustainable urban development.
Representatives from Asian countries account for 89.7 per cent of registered participants, followed by Africa with 5.6 per cent, Europe with 3.4 per cent and the Americas with 1.1 per cent. The Forum has also placed particular emphasis on maintaining gender balance among speakers, with women representing 56 per cent of invited participants and men 44 per cent.
Taking place from 17 to 22 May under the theme “Housing the World: Safe and resilient cities and communities”, WUF13 is being jointly hosted by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Forum has brought together thousands of participants from around the world, including heads of state and government, ministers, mayors, business leaders, representatives of academia and members of civil society.
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