Representatives from the diplomatic community, the United Nations and international organisations gathered in Kabul on Wednesday ahead of the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), set to take place in Baku from 17 to 22 May.
The event, hosted by UN-Habitat Afghanistan and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Kabul, focused on strengthening resilient cities and communities across Afghanistan.
In a statement shared on X, UN-Habitat Afghanistan said diplomats, UN representatives and international organisations “welcomed discussions highlighting how investments in cities and communities can protect lives, strengthen resilience, and create opportunities”.
The organisation added that the discussions were held “towards resilient cities and communities in Afghanistan.”
The Azerbaijani Embassy in Kabul said an “exhibition-conference” was held at the Kabul Grand Hotel, where participants were shown a short video introducing WUF13 in Baku.
According to the embassy, panel discussions focused on “the importance of investment in sustainable urbanisation”, while the event also included a photo exhibition.
The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Kabul said heads of diplomatic missions and international organisations accredited to Afghanistan attended the gathering.
Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to Kabul, Hojambyrdi Ovezov, presented the country’s cooperation with UN-Habitat and outlined initiatives aimed at improving urban infrastructure and developing sustainable societies, according to the embassy.
Participants were also briefed on the city of Arkadag in Turkmenistan, where digital and green technologies are being introduced into public infrastructure and services.
The World Urban Forum, organised by UN-Habitat, is considered one of the world’s leading international gatherings on sustainable urban development.
This year’s forum in Baku is expected to bring together government officials, urban planners, development agencies and international organisations to discuss housing, climate resilience and sustainable cities.
There has been no official confirmation of the level of Afghanistan’s participation or whether senior Afghan officials will attend the forum in Azerbaijan.
A drone strike on a bus in Zaporizhzhia has killed one person and injured 30, while Kyiv’s South...
Russia and Ukraine have begun a localised ceasefire around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, allowing humanitarian aid deliveries and evacuatio...
Romanian authorities say they have uncovered a sabotage network allegedly coordinated from Russia and linked to...
Uzbekistan summoned Iran’s ambassador following claims by several Iranian diplomatic missions that the historical and architectural heritage of Samarkand belongs to Persian or Iranian-Islamic civilisation, Tashkent's Foreign Ministry said.
Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić has conceded defeat after a student-led protest movement took the majority of seats in Sunday's parliamentary elections.
Russian strikes hit several parts of Ukraine overnight, injuring at least six people and targeting energy and port infrastructure, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said U.S. warnings about imminent Russian ballistic missile attacks had resumed.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council says senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye will travel to Tehran to discuss regional security.
Protests against war and rising living costs took place in major Italian cities on Saturday, with some incidents of violence and clashes, a week after unrest erupted across the country.
Syria has formally protested to Jordan over airstrikes carried out in the southern province of Daraa, saying the operation was conducted without prior coordination and resulted in civilian casualties, including children.
Iran hosted senior security and defence officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye in Tehran on Monday for rare four-way talks aimed at strengthening regional cooperation amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
A new $500 million private equity fund is being set up to support business growth across Central Asia and the Caucasus, with Uzbekistan joining five other institutions as a founding partner.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they had targeted Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline pumping stations and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as regional tensions intensified. The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a ballistic missile heading towards the capital.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a tightening election race as his rivals struggle to find a clear path to power, despite polls previously suggesting he was heading for defeat.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment