Cities of the Future and the Strategy of the New Uzbekistan

The 21st century is increasingly being called the era of cities. Today, urbanization extends far beyond the domestic policies of states. The quality of the urban environment directly impacts countries' investment attractiveness, economic resilience, and ability to adapt to climate challenges. Cities are increasingly becoming platforms for international cooperation, technology exchange, and the promotion of new sustainable development models. In this era, cities are becoming a new diplomacy, a new economy, and a new form of global influence.

It is against this backdrop that the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, entitled "Housing for All: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Communities," is being held in Baku. This high-profile summit is dedicated to finding solutions to the global housing crisis, which currently affects nearly 3 billion people.

It is symbolic that the global discussion about the future of cities is taking place in one of the most dynamically changing cities in Eurasia. The forum's hosting in Azerbaijan reflects the growing importance of the Caspian-Central Asian region as a new hub for infrastructure, logistics, and urban development.

Over the past few years, this vast region has gradually emerged not only as a major transportation hub between East and West, but also as a site for large-scale urban transformation.

Baku itself has become a notable example of the modernization of urban infrastructure, transportation systems, and public spaces in recent years. Azerbaijan's policy of rebuilding and modernizing liberated territories, with a particular focus on the concepts of "smart" and "green" cities, is gaining additional significance.

Most cities and countries in Eurasia are rapidly changing. Central Asia is experiencing one of the most extensive spatial transformations in recent decades. Population growth, the expansion of urban agglomerations, and increasing pressure on infrastructure require entirely new approaches to urban development.

All these processes are occurring against a backdrop of growing climate challenges. The consequences of the drying up of the Aral Sea, water shortages, and rising temperatures make urban sustainability a matter not only of environmental concern but also of the region's long-term security. According to the International Energy Agency, modern buildings consume approximately 30% of the world's energy and account for approximately 26% of global emissions. As a result, by mid-century, more than 1.6 billion urban residents could face water shortages and climate risks. Close international cooperation in sustainable urban development is becoming the undisputed paradigm.

It is no coincidence that the urban agenda plays a significant role in Uzbekistan's development. In recent years, the development of the urban environment, infrastructure, and housing construction has become a key focus of the New Uzbekistan strategy. Urbanization. In the country, the construction process is viewed as the foundation for long-term economic growth, sustainability, and quality of life.

The participation of the President of Uzbekistan in the World Urban Forum reflects the country's desire to more actively integrate into global urban policy. Of particular significance is the country's participation in the international Urban Expo, where the "New Tashkent" project, the "Yangi Uzbekiston" residential complexes, and large-scale reforms in urban development and housing policy are being presented. Urbanization has become one of the key pillars of the New Uzbekistan strategy. According to forecasts, the country's population could increase from 38 to 50 million over the next 15 years. Under these circumstances, the development of cities, housing, and infrastructure is becoming a matter of strategic importance for the state's future.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has been implementing the largest infrastructure and housing modernization program in the region. According to the Address of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan, over the past nine years alone, 210 million square meters of residential and non-residential buildings have been built in the country. By 2025, apartment buildings with a total area of ​​8.1 million square meters, or approximately 135,000 apartments, will be commissioned.

Particular attention is being paid to the development of regions and small towns. Uzbekistan is emphasizing a more balanced urbanization model that includes the development of not only the capital but also regional centers. An environmental agenda is becoming an important element of the new urban policy. The country is implementing green building principles, expanding urban greening, and implementing the national Clean Air project, aimed at improving air quality.

The New Tashkent project—a modern, next-generation metropolis with sustainable infrastructure, green spaces, and Digital services and a modern transportation system. The first phase of the project includes infrastructure for 600,000 residents, and upon completion, New Tashkent's population could reach 2 million.

"New Tashkent" demonstrates the country's development guidelines and reimagines the very philosophy of the urban environment in Central Asia. The reforms initiated by the Leader of Uzbekistan have already transformed the country's cities into a factor in enhancing the country's international competitiveness.

At the forum, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented his comprehensive vision of what the cities of the future should be in the face of rapid urbanization, climate challenges, and technological change. The head of state, as usual, addressed not only the national agenda but also pressing issues concerning the global future of the modern urban environment.

One of the key initiatives is the idea of ​​"balanced urbanization," which envisions the harmonious development of not only megacities but also small and medium-sized towns. With the world's largest cities facing infrastructure overload, housing shortages, and environmental degradation, this approach is becoming increasingly relevant.

Essentially, the discussion focuses on creating a more equitable and sustainable urban development model, where opportunities for comfortable living are created not only in capital cities but also in the regions.

Particular attention is paid to the digital transformation of the urban environment. A network of "smart and safe cities" for the exchange of technologies, modern solutions, and experience in artificial intelligence, digital governance, and urban security is particularly relevant.

Amid the rapid development of technology, such an initiative is particularly timely and reflects a desire to more actively participate in shaping the new global technological agenda.

A separate topic of the meeting was the climate resilience of cities. In the context of the worsening climate crisis, promoting the principles of "green" urbanization and expanding environmental standards is essential.

All these proposals are particularly relevant for Central Asia, where issues of water, ecology, and urban sustainability are already becoming matters of long-term regional security.

It is also important that today Uzbekistan is not limiting itself to discussing global challenges but is striving to propose its own solutions. The large-scale reforms being implemented in the country, the construction of "New Tashkent," and the promotion of modern approaches to urban development are gradually shaping a new image of Uzbekistan—a state ready not only to adapt to global changes but also to participate in shaping the cities of the future.

This is why it is increasingly clear that Uzbekistan is poised to become an international platform for finding constructive solutions to global urbanization, sustainable development, and the formation of new urban architecture for the 21st century.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the modern world is rapidly entering an era of global competition between cities, infrastructure, and quality of life. Cities will determine the sustainability of economies, investment attractiveness, and the level of technological development of states in the coming decades. Against this backdrop, Central Asia is gradually emerging as one of the new spaces for the large-scale urban transformation of Eurasia.

Our country, implementing the New Uzbekistan strategy, is already shaping its own model for a modern, sustainable, and people-centered city of the future. Large-scale reforms, infrastructure development, the promotion of a green agenda, and the New Tashkent project demonstrate a desire not only to adapt to global changes but also to become a center for the development of a new urban architecture in the region.