Toqaev met with Italian Prime Minister George Meloni upon her arrival at the airport
Fresh Take
Our beloved President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, bid farewell to the captivating Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, at the bustling Astana Airport. The Akorda press service confirmed the heartwarming send-off on Friday, May 30.
This momentous day kicked off with the almighty duo attending a special session of the Astana International Forum. Meloni, a beacon of eloquence, delivered an insightful speech covering the geopolitical landscape and the crucial need for regional cooperation. Following her speech, she was warmly welcomed at the Akorda residence, where delegation introductions took place, followed by enlightening discussions.
The heart of the discourse revolved around prospects for enhancing trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Italy. The talks, epic in their essence, were succeeded by an expanded meeting, which took place with delegations from both nations.
Kassym-Jomart shared his sentiments on the strong bond between the two nations, emphasizing their robust political dialogue, flourishing economic cooperation, and the growth of cultural and humanitarian ties. The day culminated in the adoption of a joint statement outlining the expansion of their strategic partnership.
Meloni was extended the finest Kazakh hospitality, with Tokayev presenting her with a cherished chapan—a symbol of Kazakh warmth and generosity. The day also witnessed the "Central Asia - Italy" summit, where Tokayev underlined his belief in the synergy of efforts in the "Central Asia Plus" format, paving the way for increased collaborative opportunities.
During the proceedings, our President expressed his desire to foster stronger ties by opening an Italian trade house in Almaty and inviting Italian universities to the land of the golden sun. The vibrant digital conversations that buzzed in the wake of this significant encounter, celebrated the union of two distinct yet equally valuable cultures.
Beyond the Moment
With the meeting between Tokayev and Meloni, Kazakhstan-Italy relations have taken a monumental leap forward. Here's a glimpse into the key topics they delved into, their groundbreaking agreements, and the plans for Kazakhstan-Italy relations in the near future:
Discussion Highlights
- Trade and Economic Ties: Tokayev underscored the critical role of Italy as Kazakhstan's biggest trading partner within Europe, underlining the importance of maintaining high dynamics in their exchanging partner, Italy has invested a staggering $7.6 billion in Kazakhstan's economy over the last 20 years. The trade turnover between the nations zoomed by 24% to a staggering $20 billion in 2024[2].
- Investment and Business Relations: During their discussions, both leaders explored avenues for expanding trade, economic, and investment ties.
- Strategic Weight: Meloni accentuated the strategic significance of the Central Asian region, believing that the Italy-Central Asia summit could go down in history as a milestone in their relationship[1].
Milestones Achieved
- Joint Statement: Following their productive talk, the leaders adopted a Joint Statement outlining the future path for Kazakhstan-Italy relations across various sectors.
- Activated Ties: Meloni's visit marked a remarkable step in nurturing Kazakh-Italian relations, focusing on augmenting interactions in energy, culture, and educational exchanges[2].
- Business Forum: A business forum was held during her visit, aiming to bolster business connections between the two nations.
Ahead on the Horizon
- Deepening Cooperation: Plans are underway to further intensify trade, economic, and investment ties, with both parties recognizing the importance of ongoing dialogue and collaboration in these areas[2].
- Regional Summit: The groundbreaking Italy-Central Asia summit is expected to pave the way for heightened cooperation in multiple domains.
- Cultural and Educational Exchanges: The leaders showed a keen interest in expanding cultural and educational exchanges between their citizens, which could promote mutual understanding and genuine collaboration.
- Within the ambit of the discussions, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni identified politics and general news areas as crucial for strengthening their nations' relations, focusing on the enhancement of trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Kazakhstan and Italy.
- The strategic weight of Italy and its importance as Kazakhstan's biggest trading partner within Europe was underscored by Tokayev during their productive talk, following which they delved into plans to deepen cooperation and broaden trade and economic ties, which involve ongoing dialogue and collaboration in these areas.
