President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, during a working visit to Kazakhstan to participate in the first Central Asia-Italy Summit, met with the Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni on May 30, TDH reports.
Turkmenistan attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation with European countries, including Italy, Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized.
Having emphasized the importance of the Central Asia-Italy format initiated by the Italian side as an effective mechanism for establishing strong mutually beneficial interstate relations, the President confirmed Turkmenistan's readiness to contribute to their further development.
In turn, Giorgia Meloni noted that bilateral relations are being built up consistently and on a long-term basis.
As noted during the meeting, bilateral trade and economic cooperation is steadily increasing in the oil and gas sector, in the field of transport and textile industry, and through business structures. A clear confirmation of this is the annual growth of mutual trade turnover.
Having noted the existence of great opportunities for developing partnership in such areas as energy and chemical industry, railway infrastructure, ecology, agriculture and water management, Serdar Berdimuhamedov declared Turkmenistan's readiness to consider the proposals of the Italian side.
In order to systematize trade and economic cooperation, the President of Turkmenistan proposed to create a joint mechanism in the format of an intergovernmental commission or business council.
Having supported this proposal, Giorgia Meloni confirmed Italy's readiness to strengthen partnership in this area.
During the meeting, it was also noted that both countries successfully interact in the international arena, in particular, within the framework of the UN, the European Union, and the OSCE. Serdar Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to the Italian side for its continued support of neutrality and international initiatives of Turkmenistan.
The President of Turkmenistan invited the Prime Minister of Italy to take part in the International Forum at the level of heads of state, government and heads of international structures, scheduled for December 12 in Ashgabat, which is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's neutrality. Giorgia Meloni invited the head of Turkmenistan to visit Italy at any time convenient for him.
