Baku: The 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) has officially commenced today in Baku. This event is taking place shortly after COP29. Azerbaijan's contribution to building a bridge between these two milestone processes - climate action and urban planning - is appreciated.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the level of interest and participation in WUF13 is high. For the first time, an event of this nature is seeing such a vast audience, spanning various global segments," stated Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Lead Negotiator for COP29.

The Deputy Minister noted that a key expectation from the event is for nations to exchange experiences regarding modern urban planning trends and approaches.

"For Azerbaijan, a particularly important focus is sharing our resettlement and urban planning practices being implemented in the liberated territories with the international community. In these areas, establishing climate-resilient, sustainable infrastructure and applying 'smart city' approaches carry significance. This event provides an opportunity to showcase Azerbaijan's achievements in sustainable urban planning on a global platform," Rafiyev emphasized.