BAKU: The 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13), hosted in Baku and organized by UN-Habitat, received extensive coverage from leading international, regional, and specialized media organizations, reflecting the forum’s global significance in shaping discussions on sustainable urban development, climate resilience, housing, and smart cities.
The high-profile United Nations event brought together policymakers, urban planners, development experts, diplomats, and media representatives from across the world to deliberate on the future of cities and sustainable urbanization.
Major international news agencies including Reuters, Associated Press (AP), Agence France-Presse (AFP), Xinhua News Agency, and Anadolu Agency reported extensively on the forum’s proceedings. Their coverage focused on urban sustainability, climate adaptation, infrastructure cooperation, diplomatic engagement, and smart-city initiatives discussed during the event.
Global broadcasters and television networks also highlighted the forum’s activities and policy discussions. BBC World Service covered debates on migration, urban sustainability, and climate-resilient cities, while Al Jazeera focused on housing and urban inequality issues alongside the broader geopolitical dimensions of the forum. Euronews carried digital and video reports on green urban planning and Azerbaijan’s role as host nation.
Chinese broadcaster CGTN emphasized themes of international cooperation and sustainable urbanization emerging from WUF13, whereas TRT World reported on regional cooperation, urban transformation, and participation by international organizations. Pakistan-based DND News Agency highlighted Azerbaijan’s initiative in promoting international dialogue through hosting global events such as WUF13.
United Nations media platforms also played a central role in disseminating information about the forum. UN News produced official reports, interviews, and speech summaries involving UN-Habitat officials and world leaders, while the UN-Habitat Media Platform served as the main hub for press releases, livestreams, expert discussions, and official announcements. UN Web TV broadcast ministerial dialogues, major sessions, and the opening and closing ceremonies.
Regional and Azerbaijani media outlets provided continuous multilingual coverage throughout the event. State news agency AZERTAC published interviews with ministers, delegates, and international guests, while Trend News Agency, AzerNews, CBC Azerbaijan, and Report News Agency covered diplomatic meetings, urban-development agreements, panel discussions, and bilateral engagements held on the sidelines of the forum.
Specialized urban-development and policy publications also closely followed WUF13. Smart Cities World focused on innovation, AI-driven city planning, digital infrastructure, and sustainability solutions presented during the forum. Cities Today highlighted smart mobility, urban governance, transport, and housing initiatives, while Urbanet and other urban journalism platforms published analytical articles and expert commentary on the forum’s policy outcomes. Sustainability and development journals additionally examined themes such as affordable housing, resilient infrastructure, and climate adaptation.
Meanwhile, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev, commended local and international media representatives for their extensive and professional coverage of WUF13, reports Azertac News.
Speaking to journalists covering the event, Hajiyev acknowledged the demanding nature of the assignment and praised reporters for their dedication and timely reporting throughout the forum.
“It was a very difficult and laborious job. You were actively working from early morning until evening every day. After that, you continued working around the city and promptly provided reports. We were also reading and waiting for them,” he said.
Hajiyev noted that the forum attracted considerable international media attention, underscoring both the importance of the global event and Azerbaijan’s role as host.
He extended special appreciation to journalists, editors, cameramen, photographers, and technical teams whose behind-the-scenes efforts ensured comprehensive coverage of the international gathering.
“Taking this opportunity, I would like to once again express my thanks to each of you, to all media leaders and colleagues. I am especially grateful to our journalists. I would also like to separately thank our cameramen and photographers, whose work is sometimes not visible. They are also heroes behind the scenes,” he stated.
The senior Azerbaijani official also welcomed the emergence of a younger generation in the country’s media landscape, describing it as an encouraging development for journalism in Azerbaijan.
“It is heartening that our media is becoming younger, with new faces joining—because I know almost all of the previous generation very well, but gradually new faces are also coming,” Hajiyev added.
