The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku has drawn widespread international media coverage, with news outlets, TV channels, and online platforms from multiple countries reporting on its opening ceremony and emphasizing the significance of its agenda alongside the participation of President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

Several TV channels broadcast the WUF13 opening ceremony live, while news outlets widely quoted President Ilham Aliyev’s address. The President`s remarks on Azerbaijan’s rapid urban development, the restoration of Garabagh and East Zangezur, and the Great Return Program were highlighted, along with the importance of the forum’s global agenda, The Caspian Post reports, citing AZERTAC.

The materials also included remarks from UN-Habitat representatives describing the level of interest in the event in Baku as unprecedented.

It was also noted that the WUF13 platform provides foreign guests with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of developments in urban planning and architecture in Azerbaijan. Representatives of various countries, particularly Turkish officials, expressed readiness to draw on Azerbaijan’s experience in organizing international events, including preparations for the COP31 climate summit.