Turkmen President Attends Central Asia–China Summit in Astana

Astana, The Gulf Observer: President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov is participating in the second Central Asia–China Summit, being held at the Palace of Independence in Astana, Kazakhstan, according to reports from Turkmenistan’s official media on Tuesday.

The high-level summit brings together the heads of state of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Central Asian counterparts.

The summit’s agenda encompasses a wide array of topics focused on bolstering multilateral cooperation among the participating nations. Discussions include strengthening political dialogue, expanding trade and economic relations, improving transit and transport connectivity, and enhancing collaboration in the energy, innovation, and security sectors. Regional security remains a key point of focus amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Established in 2020, the Central Asia–China platform has rapidly evolved into an important mechanism for regional coordination. The six nations previously convened two summits — a virtual meeting in January 2022 and a face-to-face gathering in Xi’an, China, in May 2023.

On the sidelines of the summit, President Berdimuhamedov held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the two leaders discussed avenues for further advancing Turkmen–Chinese strategic cooperation, particularly in areas such as energy, infrastructure, and investment.

The summit is expected to result in a series of joint declarations and agreements aimed at fostering long-term collaboration across multiple sectors.