Baku turns into diplomatic hub as Ilham Aliyev holds series of meetings on sidelines of WUF13

On May 17, Baku became the center of an intensive diplomatic agenda as President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a series of meetings with foreign leaders and senior officials arriving in the Azerbaijani capital for the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum — WUF13. The forum, held under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities,” is taking place in Baku from May 17 to 22 and brings together representatives from more than 180 countries.

One of the first meetings of the day was with a Pakistani delegation led by Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab Province. She conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to the Azerbaijani President. Ilham Aliyev, in turn, recalled the friendly relations between National Leader Heydar Aliyev and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif praised the organization of WUF13 and said Baku had made a strong impression on her as a city where culture and modern urban planning exist in harmony. During the meeting, the sides discussed Azerbaijan-Pakistan strategic partnership, cooperation in political, economic, diplomatic and defense fields, as well as prospects for expanding trade and interregional ties. The establishment of centers in Pakistan based on Azerbaijan’s “ASAN Service” model was also noted. President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations are also developing within the trilateral Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Pakistan format.

President Aliyev also met with King Mswati III of Eswatini. The King thanked the Azerbaijani leader for the invitation to attend WUF13. President Aliyev noted that the forum, attended by representatives of more than 180 countries, serves as an important platform for discussing urgent global urban planning issues and exchanging experience. The sides also reviewed prospects for bilateral cooperation, including in energy, mining and other sectors.

A separate meeting was held with Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto, who said this was his first visit to Azerbaijan and thanked President Aliyev for the invitation to WUF13. Ruto recalled that the World Urban Forum was first held in Kenya and noted that his country hosts the UN Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat. The Kenyan leader also invited President Aliyev to pay an official visit to Kenya, while the Azerbaijani President extended a reciprocal invitation.

The Kenya meeting also touched on the regional peace agenda. President Ruto congratulated the Azerbaijani leader on his efforts to advance peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. President Aliyev said Azerbaijan continues its efforts to further strengthen the peace agenda and ensure lasting peace in the region. The two leaders discussed prospects for cooperation in energy, defense industry, agriculture and other areas.

Later, President Aliyev received Deryageldi Orazov, Chairman of the State Committee for the Construction of the City of Arkadag under the President of Turkmenistan. Orazov conveyed greetings from Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. He also congratulated Azerbaijan on hosting WUF13. President Aliyev once again thanked Turkmenistan for its initiative to build a mosque in Fuzuli and noted that large-scale restoration and reconstruction work is underway in the liberated territories, which had been completely destroyed during the occupation.

Energy cooperation was also high on the agenda. President Aliyev received Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates. The UAE minister conveyed greetings from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The sides hailed the development of Azerbaijan-UAE relations based on strategic partnership and discussed cooperation in political, economic, energy and renewable energy fields.

In his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, President Aliyev discussed the further expansion of bilateral cooperation. Vučić congratulated Azerbaijan on hosting WUF13, while the two leaders recalled President Aliyev’s official visit to Serbia in February and noted that concrete steps had been taken to implement issues discussed during that trip. The sides emphasized the high level of political relations and pointed to opportunities for cooperation in economy, energy, investment and joint projects. The importance of Air Serbia’s direct Belgrade-Baku flights was also highlighted as a factor strengthening people-to-people contacts and tourism.

President Aliyev also met with Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova. She described Azerbaijan’s hosting of WUF13 as a major event, particularly against the backdrop of wars and conflicts around the world. Iotova noted that Bulgaria was represented at the forum not only at the head-of-state level, but also by the heads of more than ten municipalities, including the mayor of Veliko Tarnovo, Shusha’s sister city.

The Azerbaijan-Bulgaria meeting focused on energy cooperation, including the strategic importance of the “Solidarity Ring” project and prospects for electricity exports. The sides also discussed agriculture, tourism and other areas of cooperation. Cultural and humanitarian ties were highlighted as well, including the teaching of the Bulgarian language in Azerbaijan, the sister-city relationship between Veliko Tarnovo and Shusha, the creation of a Shusha Park there, and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s contribution to the restoration of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve in Bulgaria.

Thus, WUF13 is serving not only as a global platform for discussions on urban development, housing policy and resilient cities, but also as a major diplomatic venue for Azerbaijan. The meetings held in Baku on May 17 showed that the Azerbaijani capital is using the forum to deepen political dialogue, expand economic and energy partnerships, and strengthen relations with countries from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.