00:00We have to be realistic. No country, no particular stakeholders has the solution.
00:06People come here to learn from others and bring back what is applicable to their context.
00:16People-centered urban development principles, safety, security and inclusivity
00:22are what Azerbaijan, as the host country of WUV-13, aims to convey to international audiences.
00:28Being an integral member of international partnerships helps the country contribute to the evolving global dialogue.
00:36Now we are proudly saying that we are the member of the UN Habitat Executive Board.
00:42We are also co-chairing the Intergovernmental Working Group on Adequate Housing for All.
00:48This is a very good platform that together with the member states,
00:52we discuss one of the pressing challenges of the time that we are living now,
00:58so the housing, because the theme of the WUV-13 is focused on housing.
01:03So these platforms create a broad dialogue opportunities for Azerbaijan
01:08as well as for the whole international community.
01:13Preparations for WUV-13 have begun, and in particular through the organization of national forums.
01:19So the national forums laid the foundation to the WUV-13, where we are now,
01:25and that takes Azerbaijan to further demonstrate its commitment on the political level,
01:31on the national and local levels that we are committed to contribute,
01:36to share our practices, our best experiences.
01:41Cities around the world face similar challenges, from rapid urban growth and housing pressures,
01:48to climate resilience and sustainable development.
01:51Addressing these issues requires more than local solutions.
01:55It demands international cooperation and the sharing of experience between countries.
02:02Azerbaijan's approach on people-centered smart city development with a focus on post-conflict areas
02:08is one of the key topics on the global urban agenda.
02:12If you visit, you can see by your own eyes that the process is starting even from zero.
02:18And day by day you can see how the development of the cities.
02:24Smart infrastructure is not limited.
02:26You can feel it in our capital city, Baku, how Baku city and the government is trying to make more
02:33resilient
02:33and modern and historical city with using intelligent transport system,
02:39by using international standard modernization of different road systems in Baku.
02:50This is focused.
02:52One of the areas that the world can learn really from us.
02:55We believe for it because we see the interest from other countries,
02:58creating settlements for the people, returns for their safe return,
03:03and very linked to the WF13 themes on housing.
03:06In this context, the Sustainable Development Goals are central to the 13th session of the World Urban Forum.
03:14They provide the global framework that guides how cities are planned, managed and developed,
03:20especially STG 11, which stands for Sustainable Cities and Communities.
03:27We have established a Sustainable Development Goals Dialogue platform in Azerbaijan,
03:32which we are gathering twice or three times in a year.
03:36We are discussing challenges of societies which are facing with different Sustainable Development Goals problems.
03:43At the end of these dialogues, we are accepting commitment for private sector, for public sector,
03:51and sending to these different societies how we can fix and how we can solve any challenges we are facing
03:57with Sustainable Development Goals.
04:01The World Urban Forum is not a regulatory event.
04:04It actually offers a platform to share the knowledge,
04:07not only through the events that will take place at the World Urban Forum,
04:11the events in the program, but also through the Urban Expo,
04:15where there will be plenty of exhibitors, where the people will have also parallel programs
04:20of seminars, of training sessions, bilateral meetings,
04:26and also networking possibilities throughout the venue of the World Urban Forum.
04:32And we're looking forward to offer this platform.
04:39Initiatives introduced by Azerbaijan aim to showcase the country's experience
04:44in urban reconstruction, post-conflict development, climate adaptation, transport, and innovation,
04:49making Wolf 13 a particularly impactful event.
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