13. Silk Road Mayors Forum was held in Antalya between 20 and 23 October 2018 cooperatively by World Citizens Organization and Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. The forum was attended by Secretary General Fahri Solak on behalf of Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB).
The forum, organized in Tashkent, Lanzhau, Almaty, Shiraz, Gaziantep, Yeosu, Urumchi, Bursa and Kabul previously and carried out for the 13th time this year, was attended by Minister of Culture and Tourism Nuri Ersoy, President of World Citizens Organization (WCO) and Union of Silkroad Young Hoon Kwaak, President of Union of Municipalities in Turkey and Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Fatma Şahin, Secretary General of TDBB Dr. Fahri Solak, Governor of Antalya Münir Karaloğlu and Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Menderes Türel, along with 42 mayors from 67 cities of 32 countries, 2 governors and almost 200 guests.
At the opening speech of the forum Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that it is possible to create new poles in monopolar universalized economy through eager efforts of organizations like Silk Road Mayors Forum.
On the other hand Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mendres Türel stated that the forum addresses 6 “E” topics which are economy, education, environment, ethics, engineering and entertainment and added that the cooperation among municipalities is a complementary element for the diplomacy between countries.
13. Silk Road Mayors Forum ended after a high level of participation and meetings. Within the framework of the forum, the delegations made meetings on the services of the municipalities for cities, intercity diplomacy and 6 “E” topics (Economy, Education, Environment, Ethics, Engineering, Entertainment). At the forum, which was made in two main sessions, the common view was “human-centered development moves of the cities with sustainable economy without losing environment consciousness”. In addition, the marble monument which symbolizes Silk Road was inaugurated in Antalya in the memory of the forum. Besides, Mayor of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Menderes Türel and Mayor of Kotor (Montenegro) Vladimir Jokic signed cooperation protocol for tourism, culture and artistic sectors.
At the end of the forum, 14. Silk Road Forum was decided to be organized in Islamabad city of Pakistan in October, 2019.
