Your Excellency Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to send greetings to the Seventh Session of the World Urban Forum, and I thank the Government of Colombia and the City of Medellin for hosting.

Our world is increasingly urban.

This presents great opportunities for sustainable development -- equitable social progress, inclusive economic growth and sound environmental stewardship. 

But the challenges remain profound.

Among them is rising urban inequality.

All over the world cities and towns are divided along social, cultural and economic lines.

People are denied the opportunities for a better life that the urban environment can and should offer.

We need inclusive development to eradicate extreme poverty.

This is emerging as a central theme of the post-2015 development agenda.

It should be your focus this week and as you work towards Habitat III in 2016.

We need a new urban agenda that leaves no-one behind.

I count on your expertise and commitment.

Let us plan and manage our towns and cities so they provide the foundation for global, durable and sustainable development.

I wish you a successful and fruitful conference.