From May 17 to 22, 2026, the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), co-organized by United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Government of Azerbaijan, was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.” Chinese urban practices were a key component of the forum’s summits, urban exhibition areas, and numerous thematic events, providing the world with Chinese experiences in sustainable development.

On May 17, the 13th session of the World Urban Forum opens at the Baku Olympic Stadium, followed by a ministerial meeting. Photo: UN-Habitat

The World Urban Forum is the premier global conference on cities and sustainable urbanization, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001. Held every two years, it is convened by UN-Habitat, the United Nations entity promoting adequate housing and sustainable urbanization. This year’s forum attracted more than 57,000 participants from 176 countries, with over 3,000 participating online.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres delivers a video address at the forum’s opening ceremony on May 18. Photo: Elgun Zaman

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed reviews the outcome document, the Baku Call to Action, during the forum. Photo: UN-Habitat/Aléxia Saraiva

On May 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing attended and addressed the Leaders’ Summit of WUF13. Zhang said that China is willing to work with all parties to implement China’s four global initiatives, place greater emphasis on the livability, security, and resilience of cities, improve the intelligence and refinement of urban governance, strengthen dialogue, project cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges among cities, and jointly build a better urban home. Heads of state, heads of government, or high-level representatives from more than 30 countries, as well as heads of relevant international organizations, attended the summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative and Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing delivers a speech at the Leaders’ Summit. Photo: AZERTAC

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach delivers a speech at a networking event hosted by China themed “Quality and Secure Housing for Sustainable Urban Future.” Photo: Xinhua/Junfeng

As a non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the International Mayors Communication Centre (IMCC) has participated in UN-Habitat’s efforts to promote the New Urban Agenda and prepare for WUF13 since May 2025, actively offering suggestions and promoting Chinese case studies.

Jin Lan, founder of the IMCC, was selected from 247 experts worldwide to join the 15-member Drafting Committee for the outcome document of the 2025 Global Stakeholder Forum. Her recommendations on revitalizing global partnerships, improving digital city governance capabilities, bridging intergenerational poverty caused by the digital divide, strengthening the leading role of local governments in the construction of urban public spaces, innovating green finance products, and establishing a global volunteer alliance were adopted in the Global Stakeholder Forum Declaration to the UN-Habitat Assembly.

On April 16, 2026, UN-Habitat organized an online consultation to solicit inputs towards the Parliamentarians Roundtable at WUF13 and the Baku Call to Action, WUF13’s outcome document. A team of the IMCC attended the consultation, suggesting that parliaments promote financing related to old housing renovation, green bonds, green buildings, and green electricity to mitigate climate change. On May 22, a stakeholder-led Baku Call to Action was released, calling for renewed action to address the growing global housing crisis. Several recommendations from Jin Lan, founder of the IMCC, were reflected in the Baku Call to Action. For example, the document stated, “We encourage Parliamentarians and National government to introduce legislative measures that protect affordability, while encouraging increased delivery through public housing programmes, Development Finance Institutions (DFI’s), private sector & self-built housing initiatives.”

In August 2025, the IMCC recommended the “Shenzhen Shuiwei 3D Community – From urban defects to vibrant affordable housing community” in response to UN-Habitat Call for Housing Practices. After evaluation by experts worldwide, the project was successfully selected as a global housing demonstration project in March 2026 and was released at WUF13. It was showcased on the interactive screens of the Practices Hub at the forum and on the forum’s official website, becoming a global model. Yang Yang, director of the IMCC, attended the forum on behalf of Jin Lan, founder of the IMCC. Yang exchanged views with UN-Habitat officials and other participants, and presented the project’s achievements in detail at a session at the Practices Hub on May 21.

Yang Yang (left), director of the IMCC, presents the achievements of the project of Shuiwei Village in Futian District, Shenzhen at the forum. (Video screenshot)

The theme of the session was “Unlocking Housing Finance: Approaches Across Government Levels.” The two other projects presented at the session were from Egypt and Italy, both national-level housing projects. The Shuiwei Village project in Futian District, Shenzhen was the only local project. It was Shenzhen’s first talent housing community transformed from an “urban village.” Funded by the government and renovated by a State-owned enterprise, 29 “farmer’s buildings” were transformed into apartments for young talents, with the government renting them out at half price. This project serves as a model and solution for urban renewal that Shenzhen, as a pioneering demonstration zone in China, offers to the world. It is another urban governance public good that China contributes to the world, and its experience was highly recognized by the session’s moderator and audience.

Some images of the Shuiwei Village project in Futian District, Shenzhen, recommended by the IMCC.

Yang Yang (left), director of the IMCC, and Dr. May Abdelhamid (center), chief executive officer of the Social Housing and Mortgage Finance Fund of Egypt, pose for a photo with the session’s moderator. (Video screenshot)

An interactive screen at the forum showcases the Shuiwei Village project in Futian District, Shenzhen. Photo: Yang Yang

Yang Yang, director of the IMCC, poses for a photo in front of an interactive screen showcasing the project of Shuiwei Village, Futian District, Shenzhen.

The Shuiwei Village project in Futian District, Shenzhen is displayed on the forum’s official website.

https://wuf.unhabitat.org/publication/shenzhen-shuiwei-3d-community-urban-defects-vibrant-affordable-housing-community

Some of the demonstration projects displayed on the forum’s official website.

https://wuf.unhabitat.org/housingpractices

The IMCC is committed to promoting and implementing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. From November 2018 to January 2019, it helped with the preparation of the “Forum on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Shenzhen · China).”

On January 16, 2019, in a meeting room converted from a 65-square-meter old factory building in the OCT-LOFT Creative Park in Shenzhen, the IMCC hosted “Change the City: Forum on the Construction of Shenzhen National Innovation Demonstration Zone for Sustainable Development,” continuing the agenda of the “Forum on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Shenzhen · China)” held on January 15 of the same year, and focusing on the construction path of Shenzhen as a national innovation demonstration zone for the sustainable development agenda.

The forum was held in the form of remote video conferencing and live online broadcast. International leaders, including Dr. Youba Sokona, vice chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations, Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, former chair of the IPCC and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Jonathan Drew, managing director of HSBC, engaged in online dialogue with 17,200 citizens to discuss solutions for sustainable urban development.

Dr. Youba Sokona, vice chair of the IPCC, delivers a speech at “Change the City: Forum on the Construction of Shenzhen National Innovation Demonstration Zone for Sustainable Development.”

Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, former chair of the IPCC and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, delivers a speech via video link at “Change the City: Forum on the Construction of Shenzhen National Innovation Demonstration Zone for Sustainable Development.”

People’s Daily Online and Xinhua Net report on “Change the City: Forum on the Construction of Shenzhen National Innovation Demonstration Zone for Sustainable Development.”

The road to sustainable urban development is long. The IMCC has consistently worked hand in hand and advanced shoulder to shoulder with stakeholders worldwide to jointly build a “poetic human habitat.” WUF13 marks another new starting point.

A scene of the Leaders’ Summit of WUF13. Photo: AZERTAC

A scene of the venue of WUF13. Photo: euronews (Courtesy of UN-Habitat)

High-ranking officials from the United Nations and various countries participate in the dialogue sessions at WUF13. Photo: UN-Habitat/Senan Gasan, Ratmir Sherifov

A model of Baku displayed at WUF13. Photo: Yang Yang

(Some of the text is from Xinhua News Agency.)