President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday on the sidelines of the first “Central Asia – Italy” summit in Astana. During the talks, Meloni invited Berdimuhamedov to pay an official visit to Italy at a time convenient for him.

President Berdimuhamedov invited Prime Minister Meloni to attend a forum scheduled for December 12 in Ashgabat, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality and the International Year of Peace and Trust, according to Turkmenistan’s state news agency.

The two leaders acknowledged the steady development of bilateral ties, particularly in the oil and gas sector, transport, and the textile industry. They noted significant potential for expanding cooperation in areas such as energy, chemical production, rail infrastructure, environmental protection, agriculture, and water management. President Berdimuhamedov said Turkmenistan is open to considering proposals from the Italian side.

To systematize trade and economic cooperation, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov proposed establishing a joint mechanism in the form of an intergovernmental commission or business council. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni supported the proposal and confirmed Italy’s readiness to strengthen the partnership in this area.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides exchanged well wishes for good health, success in public service, and continued prosperity for the peoples of Turkmenistan and Italy.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also expressed Turkmenistan’s readiness for mutually beneficial cooperation with Italy in the field of hydrogen energy.