President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov took part in the inaugural Central Asia–Italy summit held on Friday in Astana, according to Turkmenistan’s state news agency.

The summit marks a new chapter in the growing cooperation between Italy and the countries of Central Asia — a region rich in natural resources and strategically located. Italy has maintained steady political and diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan, both bilaterally and multilaterally, particularly within the framework of the United Nations, the OSCE, and other international organizations. Rome has also co-sponsored several UN General Assembly resolutions initiated by Ashgabat.

The evolving partnership is seen as a vehicle for unlocking the region’s economic and technological potential, with access to Italian expertise in industry, energy, infrastructure, and investment playing a key role.

On the same day, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov held bilateral talks with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as part of his official visit to Kazakhstan.