Baku is becoming one of the key global platforms for the international urban development agenda

Baku is becoming one of the key global platforms for the international urban development agenda In the coming days, Baku will host the World Urban Forum (WUF13), one of the most authoritative global platforms of the United Nations in the field of sustainable urban development. The forum will bring together representatives of governments, urban planners, architects, international organizations, and experts from various countries to discuss sustainable cities, social inclusion, climate challenges, and future models of urban development. The hosting of this forum in Azerbaijan is yet another confirmation of the country’s successful experience in organizing major international events, while also demonstrating Baku’s growing role in the global urban development agenda. Through WUF13, Azerbaijan is showcasing to the world not only its technical capabilities and high-level organizational capacity for international events, but also its own model of urban development, national development concept, and philosophy of urbanization. This model combines modern technologies with national architectural traditions, social inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and a human-centered approach. Projects implemented in recent years demonstrate that for Azerbaijan, urban development is no longer only about infrastructure construction, but also about preserving national identity, culturalheritage, and social harmony.

A particularly important aspect in this context is the ongoing reconstruction and restoration process in Karabakh and East Zangezur. Projects implemented in the liberated territories have become a key example of Azerbaijan’s new urbandevelopment strategy. The concepts of “Smart city” and “Smart village,” applied in Aghdam, Fuzuli, Shusha, Zangilan, and other areas, are based on green energy principles, digital governance, modern transport infrastructure, andenvironmental balance. At the same time, special attention is given to preserving national architectural elements, historical heritage, and cultural memory.

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Through this experience, Azerbaijan seeks to demonstrate to the world that post- conflict urban reconstruction is not only a construction process, but also a process of social recovery and national revival.At the center of Azerbaijan’s urban development model is the human being. The main objective of modern urban policy is not only the construction of new buildings and roads, but also the creation of a safe, accessible, and sociallyinclusive living environment. Ensuring a comfortable urban space for children the elderly, persons with disabilities, and socially vulnerable groups is one of the key priorities of the country’s urban development strategy.

Baku has long confirmed its status as a successful host of major international events.

Formula 1 races, international humanitarian forums, the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, and COP29 have all demonstrated Azerbaijan’s growing global role. WUF13 holds a special place in this sequence, as it presents to theworld not only Azerbaijan’s organizational capacity, but also its vision of the cities of the future.

Of particular note is the participation of a number of friendly countries in the forum, including Serbia, which reflects the steadily developing partnership between Azerbaijan and Serbia. In recent years, relations between the twocountries have evolved beyond political dialogue into practical cooperation in areas such as urban development, infrastructure modernization, architecture, and sustainable regional planning. This cooperation is increasingly reflected in the exchange of expertise between relevant institutions, dialogue on smart city approaches, and growing interest in urban development best practices.

Serbia, as a friendly partner country, has also been actively advancing its own urban transformation agenda, particularly through the modernization of ke urban centers such as Belgrade and Novi Sad, with a focus on improvinginfrastructure, mobility, and quality of urban life. Within this framework, participation in WUF13 provides an important opportunity to further deepen cooperation and align strategic approaches to sustainable urban developmentbetween Baku and Belgrade.

As two countries that emphasize the balance between preserving historical heritage and implementing modern urban solutions, Azerbaijan and Serbia are gradually building a more structured foundation for long-term cooperation in the field of urban development, opening new prospects for joint initiatives in this area.

The main message of the forum in Baku is clear: the cities of the future must be built not only on technology, but also on the principles of humanism, culture, and social justice. And today, Azerbaijan is participating in these global discussions not merely as a participant, but as a country presenting its own development model to the world.

(Telegraf.rs)