Baku: In recent years, Azerbaijan has become an important platform for global cooperation and multilateral dialogue by successfully hosting international events. The holding of the 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku went down in history as one of the most important stages of this series of successes. The forum occupies a special place in Azerbaijan's modern history not only in terms of the number of participants and scope, but also in terms of the political, economic, and international resonance it created.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, by bringing together more than 57,000 participants from 176 countries, WUF13 became the largest-scale session ever held in the history of the World Urban Forum. This indicator is not only a confirmation of the forum's global importance, but also a clear example of the experience and trust Azerbaijan has gained in the field of organizing international events. As the second largest international event held in the country after COP29, WUF13 once again brought Baku into the focus of the world's attention and turned the city into the main address of global discussions related to urbanization, sustainable development, and the cities of the future.

In the modern era, cities have turned into places where the most important challenges faced by humanity are being resolved. Issues such as climate change, urbanization, migration, housing provision, social inclusivity, and sustainable development concern all countries of the world. It was precisely in such a period that the holding of WUF13 in Baku demonstrated Azerbaijan's active participation and contribution to this global dialogue.

Within the framework of the forum, heads of various states, ministers, representatives of international organizations, experts, scientists, urban planning specialists, and civil society institutions came together and exchanged views on the cities of the future. Baku acquired a meaning beyond being merely the venue where these discussions were held. The city played the role of a global bridge uniting different cultures, views, and experiences.

At a time when confrontations and geopolitical tensions are increasing in the system of international relations, Baku's role as a platform for multilateral cooperation and constructive dialogue is of particular importance. The forum showed that Azerbaijan has the ability to bring different sides around one table and create an environment of cooperation for the sake of common goals.

The selection of a city to host such a prestigious event as WUF13 is not accidental. When determining the host country, UN-Habitat and international partners take into account numerous criteria such as security, logistics, infrastructure, organizational capacity, and international reliability. Baku's gaining preference in this selection once again proves that Azerbaijan's international prestige is at a high level.

In recent years, Azerbaijan has strengthened its image as a reliable partner by hosting important global events. Whether political and economic forums, international sports competitions, or events dedicated to the global climate and development agenda, they have demonstrated our country's organizational capabilities to the world. WUF13 became a new peak of these successes.

The holding of the forum in Baku is also an indication of the recognition of Azerbaijan's contributions to international processes in the field of urbanization. The large-scale infrastructure projects implemented in our country in recent years, modern urban planning approaches, the application of 'smart city' concepts, and the promotion of sustainable development principles are attracting international interest. In particular, the reconstruction and 'smart city' projects carried out in the liberated territories are regarded as interesting examples of experience for many countries.

WUF13 is not only an event, but also an important international platform where future development directions are determined. The approaches adopted and the ideas discussed here influence the development strategies of cities in the coming years.

Through the forum, Azerbaijan gained the opportunity to share its experience with the international community. At the same time, broad opportunities emerged to study the experiences of specialists and decision-makers from different regions of the world. This mutual exchange serves the spread of innovative approaches in the field of urbanization and the formation of new cooperation opportunities.

At the session held in Baku, issues such as the construction of sustainable cities, social inclusivity, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, and human-centered urban planning were widely discussed. These topics are among the main development priorities of the 21st century and coincide with Azerbaijan's strategic development goals.

The importance of such large-scale events is not limited only to political and diplomatic results. WUF13 also played an important role in terms of presenting Azerbaijan's economic potential and investment opportunities.

The visit of thousands of foreign guests to Baku created conditions for them to closely familiarize themselves with the country's modern infrastructure, transport system, tourism opportunities, and business environment. During the days of the forum, Baku turned into the center of meetings and discussions of delegations arriving from different countries of the world. This created new opportunities for future investment projects, partnerships, and business relations.

International events also have a positive impact on the country's economic activity. Hotels, the transport sector, service areas, and other directions gain additional economic revitalization. Along with this, the country's international promotion gives impetus to the increase of tourism and investment flows in the long term.

WUF13 created a unique opportunity to demonstrate to the international community the path of development that Baku has undergone in recent years. A city once mainly known for the oil industry is today distinguished by modern architecture, developed infrastructure, green spaces, and innovative urban planning solutions.

Forum participants witnessed the harmony Baku has created between historical heritage and modern development. The unity of ancient historical places such as Icherisheher with examples of modern urban planning turns Baku into one of the most interesting cities in the world. This feature generated great interest among forum participants and contributed to the further strengthening of the city's international image.

At the same time, Azerbaijan's policy aimed at regional development, the creation of new residential settlements, the expansion of transport connections, and the application of 'smart technologies' became among the main topics attracting the attention of international experts.

The high-level organization of WUF13 once again demonstrated Azerbaijan's professionalism in holding major international events. The reception of thousands of participants, the provision of security, the coordination of logistics, the uninterrupted organization of events, and high service standards revealed the strong institutional potential the country has formed in this field.

This experience has been formed as a result of international events held over many years and is becoming even more perfected with each new event. WUF13 showed that Azerbaijan is capable of organizing not only regional, but also globally significant forums at the highest level.

The successful holding of the forum further strengthened the country's status as a reliable partner for international organizations. This creates additional opportunities for holding other prestigious international events in Azerbaijan in the future.

The holding of WUF13 in Baku is another confirmation of Azerbaijan's growing role in the system of international relations. The forum showed that our country has become an important platform connecting regions not only geographically, but also in political, economic, and diplomatic terms.

WUF13, attended by more than 57,000 participants from 176 countries and remembered as the largest session in the history of the World Urban Forum, became a vivid indicator of Azerbaijan's international prestige, organizational potential, and contribution to global processes. Baku once again proved that it is one of the important world cities where international cooperation, global solidarity, and future-oriented development ideas are shaped.

This success is not only the successful holding of one event. It is another manifestation of the further strengthening of Azerbaijan's position worldwide as a reliable partner, a responsible international actor, and a country that has a say in shaping the global agenda.

WUF13 will remain in history as one of the brightest proofs of this.