Education and Diplomacy Take Center Stage in Kazakh-Italian Presidential Talks

Education and global diplomacy have been front and center during high-level talks between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

Highlighting growing academic cooperation, President Tokayev noted that more than 4,000 Kazakh students are currently studying at top universities across Italy, The Caspian Post informs via Kazakh media.

“I am sincerely grateful to the Italian government for its support of our students’ education,” President Tokayev said.

He also celebrated the opening of a new branch of Italy’s Marche Polytechnic University at Zhetysu University named after Ilyas Zhansugurov. “I am confident that this institution will offer our youth access to high-quality education,” he added.

Beyond education, the two leaders addressed pressing international concerns. Tokayev and Mattarella shared their alarm over the escalation of global armed conflicts and reaffirmed their joint commitment to resolving disputes peacefully, in accordance with the UN Charter.

“Kazakhstan and Italy are united in their desire to foster peace and stability worldwide,” said President Tokayev.

He went on to praise Italy’s role in launching the Central Asia-Italy dialogue platform, the first summit of which took place earlier this year in Astana. “This initiative will help strengthen regional cooperation and support our efforts within multilateral institutions,” President Tokayev noted.

The Kazakh president also thanked Italy for endorsing Kazakhstan’s initiative to establish a UN Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Almaty, serving Central Asia and Afghanistan.

At the conclusion of the bilateral talks, held in a narrow format at the Akorda Presidential Palace, President Tokayev announced that a monument honoring Kazakh poet and philosopher Abai would be unveiled in Rome later this year-a powerful symbol of cultural ties between the two nations.

In recognition of President Mattarella’s contribution to strengthening Kazakhstan-Italy relations, President Tokayev awarded him the Order of Dostyq (Friendship), First Degree. In return, the Italian president presented President Tokayev with Italy’s highest honor, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.