BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. Hosting the World Urban Forum in Baku signifies that Azerbaijan is taking the lead on such important issues as urban development, “smart cities,” and “smart villages,” the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), Mansoor Ahmed Janjua, told Trend on the sidelines of WUF13 in Baku.
“Thank you very much for hosting such a wonderful forum in Baku. Azerbaijan and Pakistan are, in fact, two hands of the same body. Our countries are very close. Historically, Pakistan and Azerbaijan have always supported each other—whether on territorial issues or positions on international platforms. Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan can be called exemplary,” he said.
According to Janjua, cooperation between the two countries will continue to strengthen in the future.
“I hope that this cooperation will continue in the coming years and for future generations. Our interaction in the fields of defense, urban planning, the economy, joint infrastructure development, as well as cooperation within the United Nations on key issues—all of this strengthens our relations,” he noted.
According to him, hosting WUF13 in Baku underscores Azerbaijan’s growing role in sustainable urban development.
"The World Urban Forum is a wonderful initiative launched by the Government of Azerbaijan. Hosting the forum in Baku means that Azerbaijan is taking the lead on such important issues as urban development, ‘smart cities,’ and ‘smart villages, areas that the Azerbaijani government is already actively developing. This is a wonderful initiative and a necessity of our time," he added.
Meanwhile, the third day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) is underway in Baku.
On the first day, a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New Urban Agenda, a roundtable of ministers, assemblies of women and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban well-being were held. A ceremony for raising the flags of the United Nations and Azerbaijan also took place within the framework of the forum.
The second day of the forum drew attention with the first-ever Leaders Summit. High-level discussions on the global housing crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience were held that day. At the same time, the Mexico City pavilion was inaugurated within the framework of WUF13. The pavilion was presented as an important platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin American region and preparing for WUF14.
WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities,” the forum brings together governments, international organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development.
