Türkiye’s Antalya has become a center of global diplomacy as it hosts the two-day leaders’ summit of the UN climate conference COP31, opened by President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Heads of state and government from 102 countries, around 300 ministers and high-level delegations from 196 states are taking part, making it the largest international climate event in Türkiye’s history.
Erdoğan and UN Secretary-General António Guterres personally welcomed each arriving leader at the venue, beside displays bearing the UN and COP31 logos. After the traditional group photograph, the heads of state moved to the “Anatolian Hall,” the conference’s largest plenary hall.
The video shows the leaders arriving for the welcoming ceremony, shaking hands with Erdoğan and Guterres, and posing for photographs against the conference emblem. It ends with aerial views of the COP31 venue and the Turkish flag over Antalya.
From Moscow and Kyiv to Tashkent and Baku
Countries represented at the leaders’ level include Russia and Ukraine, as well as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova and Bulgaria. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev have already arrived in Antalya, along with the leaders of Syria, Iraq and Iran.
At a meeting with Guterres on the eve of the summit, Erdoğan said Türkiye continued working to end the war between Ukraine and Russia and was ready to support a new dialogue process. They also discussed reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, as well as the situation in Gaza, Cyprus and Libya. Erdoğan also received Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and congratulated him on Ethiopia being selected to host the next COP32 conference.
4,000 journalists from 190 countries
Around 4,000 accredited journalists from more than 190 countries are covering the conference. A media center for 5,000 people has been established for them in the 527,000-square-meter “Blue Zone.” Organizers estimate that around 100,000 people will visit the venue during the conference.
Foreign journalists praised the organization. “The food was excellent, the logistics worked smoothly and the weather was wonderful. In short, it is a great place for our conference,” said British journalist Stuart Smith, who is working at COP for the first time. South Korean journalist Lei Chu said: “I think it is time to achieve a truly significant result.”
From commitments to action
The main idea of Türkiye’s presidency is to turn previous commitments into concrete steps. COP31’s “Action Agenda” includes 10 priorities, including zero waste by 2035, the transition to clean energy, climate-resilient cities and green industrialization. The conference will continue until November 20.
Photos and video: social media. Sources: TRT Haber, Anadolu.
