The Azerbaijani government is working actively to restore the liberated territories and return people there, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN‐Habitat) Maimunah Mohd Sharif told reporters in Aghdam, Report informs.

She noted that climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues create challenges for urban planning and transformational change.

The forum held today is important in terms of studying the work done by Azerbaijan in these territories, studying the country's technical experience, the UN-HABITAT executive director said.

Azerbaijan National Urban Forum on the “Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda as engines of post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation” has kicked off in Aghdam in partnership with the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan and with the organizational support of the ADA University.

It was opened by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev who made speech at the event.

The Azerbaijan National Urban Forum, which brings together more than 130 representatives from 44 countries, more than 400 people in total, will create a new opportunity for international and multilateral cooperation on urban regeneration, identify problems in order to overcome crises in urban areas, and play the role of a platform for knowledge sharing and experience to discuss solutions. The Azerbaijan National Urban Forum, held for the first time in the country in the city of Aghdam, is a rare and successful platform for the exchange of experience of profile specialists from around the world in the field of urban development and expansion of cooperation to ensure sustainable development.

Tomorrow the event will continue its work in Baku.