President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi launched the "National Smart Cities" and "National Green Urbanism" strategies, which aim to reinforce ongoing national endeavors in urbanization, during the opening ceremony of the 12th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo.
During his speech, El-Sisi said that WUF12 convenes at a critical time as the world grapples with successive global crises, including devastating wars and their catastrophic repercussions for cities, urban communities, and all walks of life.
He stressed the need to mobilize efforts and exercise political will to establish peace, terminate conflicts, and prioritize development, reconstruction, and rebuilding.
"Only then can we embark on serious endeavors to address urban challenges in societies ravaged by wars, fighting, displacement, famine, and disease," he noted.
El-Sisi further said that wars and conflicts raging in the Middle East, especially in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, might be serving as a stark reminder of the severe losses that nations incur as a result of opting for war and conflict over peace and stability.
"The daily suffering endured by the peoples of these countries necessitates urgent and vigorous response to end the bloodshed and destruction and embark on reconstruction and development," he said.
Additionally, El-Sisi emphasized that Egypt has consistently demonstrated its commitment to supporting its brothers in ending the violence and mitigating the severity of the humanitarian, economic, and social repercussions.
WUF12 drew several heads of state and prominent international figures, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague, and Anacláudia Rossbach, UN-Habitat’s undersecretary-general and executive director.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
