United Nations Radio

The Third World Urban Forum to discuss challenges posed by urbanization and the increase in slums ends today in Vancouver, Canada. UN Radio's Ben ~Malor filed this report.

"For an entire working, more than 10,000 people from all over the world have been exchanging ideas and lessons, and trying to find solutions to the world's growing urbanization crisis. The head of UN-Habitat, the UN agency responsible for human settlement issues, Mrs. Annan Tibaijuka, says the ideas and talk must now lead to action.

'I came here upbeat, knowing it will be good, but not this good. I will now be appealing that all of this is in vain if it is not going to be followed by action.'

The closing ceremony included a handover from the City of Vancouver to the City of Nanjing in China where the next World Urban Forum will be held in the year 2008.

For UN Radio, this is Ben Dotsei Malor."