00:00Amidst all of its challenges and difficulties and also escalation that we see at a global level,
00:06providing such a platform for the dialogue, cooperation and interaction of the international community is crucially important.
00:12We are also thankful for the international community for the confidence that it rendered to the Republic of Azerbaijan
00:17to host such an event that's called the World Urban Forum.
00:21It's the second biggest event in the entire family of the United Nations after the COP29.
00:27And we think that COVID-19 provided a platform for discussion of all important components of the urban agenda.
00:35Urban agenda matters a lot because we see the speedy development of the cities
00:40and it puts a lot of pressure on our climate, on the cities and our livelihoods.
00:45And international community should start thinking all of its parameters.
00:48But in the meantime, Azerbaijan applies a very consistent approach.
00:51A year ago, Azerbaijan hosted COP29, where we discussed the important aspects of the global climate change,
00:59including the financing aspect, but there were also good deliverables about the financing of the global climate issues.
01:06And as a continuation, in a consistent manner of the same line, Azerbaijan hosted a World Urban Forum,
01:12we see direct correlation between the two concepts, climate change, housing and urban development, all in all.
01:18Therefore, under such circumstances, an international community coming to Baku
01:24and also discussing and interacting with one another is important.
01:28And I'm also very glad that this event produces important documents
01:32and leaves important legacy for our future plans and future work of the international community.
01:38One of the things that's called Baku Call for Action on the Urban Agenda.
01:42This document produced with the involvement of all stakeholders, civil society institutions, academia and media and some other professionals as
01:52well.
01:52In a sense, it's like a voice of the international community, how we would like to see urban development.
01:57It's also message and recommendation to all our appropriate governments.
02:01Again, we are thankful to the international community.
02:03We are also thankful for the UN and UN institutions for rendering such a confidence on Azerbaijan.
02:09I'm glad that we had a very successful and comprehensive discussions.
Comments