Baku: The official closing ceremony of the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) took place, marking the end of a significant event in the realm of urban planning and development. The ceremony commenced with a video dedicated to the closing of WUF13, followed by a cultural program that highlighted the event's conclusion.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed her gratitude to Azerbaijan's government and people for their hospitality and leadership in hosting WUF13. She acknowledged Azerbaijan's role in elevating urbanization to a global stage by declaring 2026 as the 'Year of Urban Planning and Architecture.' Mohammed praised the nation for developing progressive approaches in response to new challenges while respecting traditional values.

Anar Guliyev, National Coordinator of WUF13 and Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, stated their readiness to share the experiences gained during WUF13 in preparation for WUF14. He highlighted the upcoming COP31 in Trkiye as another important platform to advance the urban agenda and address housing issues.

Anacl¡udia Rossbach, Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), remarked on the record number of participants at WUF13 and the strong, unified message delivered. Rossbach emphasized the urgency for systemic transformation in housing provision, urging for accelerated implementation, large-scale action, and measurable positive impacts on people's lives in the upcoming years.

The ceremony concluded with Azerbaijan officially handing over the chairmanship of the next session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF14) to Mexico.