On 30 May 2025, Astana hosted the first-ever Central Asia-Italy Summit, marking a landmark event in the architecture of international relations across the Eurasian space. As a researcher of regional diplomacy, I view this gathering not merely as another multilateral meeting, but as an important indicator of the transformation of geopolitical priorities and the emergence of new formats of cooperation between European powers and Central Asian states.

     The participation of honorable Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon in this summit and his comprehensive presentations allow us to analyze not only bilateral Tajik-Italian relations, but also broader trends in the formation of a new model of cooperation between Central Asia and Western Europe. In the context of an increasingly complex international environment and the need to diversify foreign policy ties, such initiatives acquire particular significance for understanding the evolution of contemporary diplomacy.

Tajikistan’s proposal to establish a joint investment fund with the Italian Export Credit Agency demonstrates the aspiration to institutionalize financial cooperation between Central Asia and Europe.

The emphasis on developing hydroelectric power, mineral extraction, and the textile industry reflects an understanding of the need to diversify economic ties and attract European technologies to traditional sectors. The successful experience of cooperation between Tajik textile enterprises and Italian companies serves as a practical example of effective bilateral economic partnership and the potential for its scaling up.

The call for active participation of Italian business circles in processing and exporting Tajik products demonstrates readiness to deepen industrial cooperation and create joint value-added chains. Of particular interest is the proposal to establish a joint Central Asian investment fund with the Italian Export Credit Agency (SACE). This initiative demonstrates an understanding of the need to institutionalize economic cooperation and create sustainable mechanisms for financial interaction. It should be noted that such proposals reflect the maturity of Central Asian states’ approaches to international cooperation.

The identification of hydroelectric power, mineral extraction, agricultural production, and the textile industry as priority areas of cooperation reflects Tajikistan’s aspiration to diversify economic ties and attract European technologies. The mention of practical experience in cooperation with Italian companies in the textile sector indicates the existence of a concrete foundation for expanding partnership.

Positioning climate issues as a priority area of regional cooperation reflects an understanding of the global nature of environmental challenges and the need for a coordinated international response. Hosting the first-ever International Conference on Glacier Preservation in Dushanbe allows Tajikistan to act as a regional leader on the climate agenda and enhance its international status. Welcoming the interest of the Italian Climate Fund opens new opportunities for obtaining financing and technological support in sustainable development and green economy. The call for cooperation in adapting to the consequences of climate change demonstrates a pragmatic approach to environmental challenges and readiness for joint development of adaptation strategies.

The educational dimension of diplomacy is coupled with significant attention paid to educational cooperation issues, reflecting an understanding of the importance of human capital for long-term development. The call to establish connections between universities of both countries, develop joint educational programs, and organize academic exchanges demonstrates a strategic approach to forming the foundations of long-term partnership.

Of particular interest is the mention of European Union educational programs “Erasmus Plus” and “Horizon Europe”. This demonstrates Central Asian states’ aspiration to integrate into the European educational space, which can contribute to training qualified personnel and knowledge transfer.

Interest in allocating quotas for Tajik students and the possibility of opening branches of Italian universities in Tajikistan indicates an understanding of the importance of institutional development of educational ties. Such an approach can become the foundation for forming long-term cultural and academic bridges between regions.

The call for cooperation in countering terrorism, extremism, radicalism, and transnational organized crime reflects a realistic assessment of contemporary security threats and the need for a coordinated international response. Including cybercrime and illegal drug trafficking in the list of priority threats demonstrates an understanding of the evolution of the nature of contemporary challenges and the need to adapt mechanisms of multilateral cooperation.

Contextualizing security issues within the framework of “ongoing conflicts in various regions of the planet and the rapidly changing situation in the world community” emphasizes the global nature of contemporary threats and the interconnectedness of regional and international stability. Central Asian states’ readiness to participate in international security efforts demonstrates awareness that contemporary challenges require coordinated actions by various international actors for their effective resolution.

Bilateral Meeting: Deepening Strategic Dialogue

The separate meeting of the esteemed Leader of the Nation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni demonstrated the parties’ readiness to develop bilateral dialogue at the highest level. Discussion of prospects for deepening cooperation in trade and economic collaboration, investment, energy, and industry indicates the seriousness of intentions for practical implementation of achieved agreements.

Attention to issues of deep cotton processing and implementation of modern technologies reflects the aspiration to modernize traditional economic sectors. This is particularly important in the context of the need to increase the added value of export products and integrate into global value creation chains.

The invitation to the Italian Prime Minister to visit Tajikistan on an official visit demonstrates the aspiration to institutionalize bilateral relations and create a regular mechanism for political dialogue.

The summit in the “Central Asia-Italy” format reflects broader trends in the regional context of the contemporary international relations system. In conditions of global order fragmentation and intensifying competition between great powers, medium and small states are increasingly actively seeking alternative formats of cooperation.

For Italy, this initiative can be viewed as an attempt to strengthen positions in Central Asia and diversify foreign policy priorities. In the context of European politics, this can also contribute to forming a more autonomous EU position regarding the Eurasian region.

For Central Asian states, participation in such formats represents an opportunity to diversify foreign policy ties and reduce dependence on traditional partners. This is particularly important in conditions requiring balance between various geopolitical centers of power.

Symbolic Dimension and Diplomatic Signals

The active participation of honorable Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon in this event and his comprehensive initiatives demonstrate Tajikistan’s aspiration for a more active role in regional processes. This is particularly important in the context of the need to overcome traditional limitations of geographical position and integrate into broader international processes.

The mention of specific cooperation mechanisms and the proposal to create new institutional formats demonstrates a pragmatic approach to diplomacy and readiness for practical implementation of achieved agreements.

Conclusions and Prospects

Analysis of materials from the first Central Asia-Italy Summit allows us to draw several important conclusions about contemporary trends in regional diplomacy. First, Central Asian states demonstrate growing maturity in foreign policy planning issues and readiness to actively participate in forming new formats of international cooperation.

Second, the climate agenda is becoming an important diplomatic tool, allowing small and medium states to enhance their international status and attract additional resources for development. Positioning environmental issues as a priority for regional cooperation reflects an understanding of the global nature of contemporary challenges.

Third, educational cooperation is viewed as the foundation for forming long-term partnership relations. Integration into European educational programs can contribute to knowledge and technology transfer, which is particularly important for the region’s developing countries.

Finally, the creation of new institutional cooperation mechanisms, such as the proposed investment fund, demonstrates the aspiration for practical implementation of political agreements. This can become the foundation for forming sustainable economic ties and deepening integration processes.

In a broader context, the Central Asia-Italy Summit can be viewed as a manifestation of the trend toward forming a more flexible and multipolar system of international relations, where regional and medium powers play an increasingly active role in global governance.

Faridun M. Yusufjonov

Candidate of Political Sciences / International Relations,

Leading Researcher, USA and Canada Department,

Research Institute for Asian and European Studies,

National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan