00:00We leverage the Forum technically and politically.
00:06We have been able to showcase concrete solutions and already design a roadmap.
00:18Organized by UN Habitat, the World Urban Forum has served as a global platform
00:23where cities and countries were able to share knowledge, experiences and innovative approaches to urban development.
00:29Supporting the new urban agenda due to be reviewed at the United Nations headquarters in July.
00:35We have been able to design a structure of the Forum that speaks directly to our strategic plan.
00:42This means that for UN Habitat, all the inputs from here we can take into action immediately
00:49as we implement our strategic plan for 26-29.
00:53Intense talks and debates have led to new relationships, sharing good practices
00:57but also understanding those lessons learnt.
01:00Sustainability and equity lay at the heart of the conference, but positivity and hope were at the call.
01:07As you can see, 300 different partner-level events, sessions and conferences have been organized
01:13along with the Expos of the countries.
01:16They provided their concept of urban development and city development and interaction.
01:21I think that at this stage we are learning from one another.
01:24It is one of the important legacies from our cultures, from our urban agendas and from our ambitions for the
01:31development.
01:31The road to WUF-13 in Baku began during the handover from WUF-12 in Cairo.
01:37It has resulted in over 57,000 participants from 176 countries, making it the largest addition to date
01:43and hosted over 150 ministers and deputy ministers.
01:47Being hosted here in Baku, that's a very important signal at the global level
01:53that our cities in this region are leading, are bringing very important examples
02:00to other partners from Africa, from Latin America, from the Middle East Arab states
02:05on how urbanization could be tackled, how the local climate action could be responded to.
02:13So therefore that's a very important and timely forum.
02:16Hosting the forum requires extensive preparation.
02:20Organization to manage thousands of people at the venue was at the forefront of the construction stage
02:25and venue managers' plans, and the Urban Expo was an area where all nations were represented.
02:30Urban Expo is a 35,000 square meters area
02:33when it looks like an open square city, city square,
02:40when dynamic, modular, highly interactive.
02:42All the people, when it's going inside, like to interact inside this space,
02:47when the countries, companies, international organizations, businesses,
02:52academias from all over the world.
02:55Architecture of the venue was also a huge consideration,
02:58with careful thought and planning central to the decision-making.
03:01For me, functionality and workability comes first rather than visual design,
03:07and that's why it affected in every decision we made.
03:11For example, at the planning stage, planning of the circulation and operational efficiency.
03:17After solving this planning stage of the design, we focused on the visual side of it,
03:22so it's well-balanced and it's well-composed and looks clear from the outside.
03:28From thematic strands and expert dialogues to new initiatives,
03:32the 13th session of the World Urban Forum here in Baku
03:36was designed to foster collaboration and exchange practical ideas.
03:40It brought together policymakers, planners and urban specialists from across the globe
03:45to scrutinize the complex challenges facing cities today.
03:50Convened by UN Habitat and co-hosted by the Government of Azerbaijan,
03:55WUF 13 featured more than 580 sessions and an urban expo
03:59that recorded over 74,000 visits, an incredible achievement.
04:03But now it's time to hand over the baton for the 14th session of the World Urban Forum,
04:08which will take place in 2028.
04:11The destination, Mexico City.
04:13I also came to see how this forum was,
04:20to provide the best conditions in the city of Mexico
04:24and that we can go ahead with a forum that has very good coordination,
04:31that the participants can be taken advantage of.
04:37Because, look, here came representatives from all the world.
04:42They crossed oceans.
04:43For Azerbaijan, there's no doubt that the privilege of hosting a world-class event
04:48will change how we live in the future.
04:50It's a chapter that's not ended.
04:52In fact, it appears to be the beginning of an exciting new era.
04:57Command and the which I we Love
04:58I Love
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