WUF13 hosting shows global confidence in Azerbaijan, top lawmaker says PHOTO

15 April 2026 20:22

The convening of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Azerbaijan, following the successful hosting of COP29, serves as yet another affirmation of confidence in the country’s capacity to unite international efforts in addressing pressing global challenges, Speaker of the AzerbaijaniMilli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova said.

Addressing the 5th Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network in Istanbul, Gafarova noted that 2026 has been declared the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture” in Azerbaijan, emphasizing the country’s significant experience in this field, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

According to Gafarova, large-scale reconstruction and development projects are being implemented in Karabakh and East Zangazur under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

“In these territories, new settlements and transport, energy, and economic infrastructure are being built based on advanced urban planning principles, and innovative concepts such as ‘green energy zones,’ ‘smart cities,’ and ‘zero waste’ are being introduced. Three national urban forums organized in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Program have become an important platform for experience exchange and have contributed to strengthening cooperation in this field,” she said.

The Speaker added that WUF13 will be an important stage in assessing the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, during which the results of the past decade will be reviewed and priorities up to 2036 will be defined.

Gafarova called on participants to actively engage in the forum’s work and take its outcomes into account when addressing challenges related to rapid urbanization.