 The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro on Monday formally started preparations of the world’s premier conference on cities which it will host 22-26 March next year under the banner, bridging the urban divide.
At a colourful cocktail party for delegates attending the 22nd Session of the Governing Council of UN-HABITAT in Nairobi, Brazilian Ambassador Mrs. Ana Maria Sampaio Fernandes said her country was ready for the conference known as the World Urban Forum.
Held every two years, the session in Rio will be the fifth following earlier conferences in Naning, China, in 2008, Vancouver, Canada 2006, Barcelona, Spain 2004 and Nairobi, Kenya in 2002. “As most of you are aware, the World Urban Forum has become, in a few short years, the world’s pre-eminent gathering of minds, of ideas and of actions to make our cities greener, cleaner, economically vibrant and socially more inclusive,” said UN-HABITAT Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijiuka in an address to guests. |
