Fariz Ismayilzada: Hosting WUF13 in Baku is major diplomatic victory

The hosting of the 13th Session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku is a major diplomatic victory, said Fariz Ismayilzada, Azerbaijani MP and Vice‑Rector of ADA University, Report informs.

Ismayilzada made the remarks during the opening of the international conference under the theme Formation of Human Capital for Sustainable and Balanced Urban Development held within the Baku Urban Week.

He emphasized that the event is of strategic importance for Azerbaijan, as it not only addresses ecology and urban planning but also contributes to the expansion of diplomatic relations.

According to him, similar to the experience of COP29, hosting the forum allows Azerbaijan to gain new allies and friends worldwide, secure diplomatic dividends, strengthen its foreign policy agenda, and convey the truth about the country's realities to the international community.

The MP also highlighted that today Baku is focused on the peace agenda and the reconstruction of Karabakh, noting that rebuilding and urban development are the best tools for establishing long‑term stability in the region:

"This sends an important signal to the world: Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity and is now building lasting peace in the region through reconstruction, infrastructure renewal, and bringing life back to Karabakh."

Ismayilzada added that the state allocates billions of manats annually to ensure the successful return of former internally displaced persons to their homes: "The country's agenda and President Ilham Aliyev's main strategy are to create sustainable regions with green zones, environmentally clean areas, smart cities, and the use of modern technologies and international expertise."