Kyrgyz president hails WUF13 in Baku, proposes mountain cities alliance

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has expressed gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for what he described as the “impeccable organisation” of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.

Speaking at the WUF13 Leaders’ Summit, Japarov thanked President Ilham Aliyev and "the brotherly people of Azerbaijan for the warm welcome and for organising the WUF13 forum at the highest level,” Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He added that WUF13 serves as a unique platform for discussing issues of urbanisation, sustainable development, climate change, and affordable housing.

“We are responsible for creating decent living conditions for our citizens. Cities have become centres of economic development, innovation, and human capital. At the same time, cities are the first to face the consequences of climate change, infrastructure overload, housing problems, and security issues. That is why housing development and housing construction remain a priority for Kyrgyzstan,” he said.

The Kyrgyz president noted that by 2025, more than 1.8 million square metres of housing had been commissioned in the country. He also highlighted ongoing urban governance reforms in the capital, Bishkek.

“The city's infrastructure is being modernised, and public transportation is being updated. We are paying special attention to greening the city and improving energy efficiency. At the end of last year, the first waste recycling plant in Central Asia was opened in Bishkek,” he said.

Japarov also invited forum participants to visit Kyrgyzstan’s exhibition pavilion at WUF13, saying: “I am confident that this forum will yield best practices in developing solutions to ensure the sustainable well-being and prosperity of our countries. We are convinced that through joint efforts, we will be able to build inclusive and comfortable cities for future generations, where people, nature, and progress exist in harmony,” he said.

He further announced that Kyrgyzstan is proposing the creation of an International Association of Mountain Cities and is ready to host it in Bishkek.

Speaking at the summit, he said Kyrgyzstan places special importance on the sustainable development of mountain regions.

“According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, mountains not only directly support the livelihoods and well-being of more than a billion people worldwide, but also indirectly benefit billions of people in foothill regions. Unfortunately, melting glaciers, climate change, population migration, and increasing pressure on ecosystems negatively impact cities located in mountainous and foothill regions,” he said.

Outlining priorities for sustainable development of mountain cities, he added: “First, ensuring ecosystem sustainability. We advocate for the development of comprehensive urban management strategies that take into account the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems. In particular, adapting to reduced glacial runoff and implementing water-saving technologies is critical. Furthermore, it is necessary to implement and develop environmentally friendly waste collection systems, as well as recycling and disposal systems, and, of course, prevent potential landscape pollution,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of environmentally friendly materials and modern technologies.

“Mountain cities aren't just about nature; they're primarily about people. Therefore, it's essential to create comfortable living and working conditions for citizens, provide educational opportunities, social infrastructure, and tourist routes. Given the particular relevance of mountain city development, as well as our experience in this field, we propose considering the creation of an International Association of Mountain Cities. We hope that the association will become a platform for exchanging experiences for potential joint research projects for the benefit of mountain cities. For our part, we also offer to host this association in Bishkek,” Japarov said.

By Sabina Mammadli