France, May 6 -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday hosted the de facto leader of Turkmenistan for rare talks at the Elysee Palace, with Paris showing interest in the vast gas reserves of the reclusive Central Asian state.

Known in Turkmenistan as "Arkadag" ("protector") and president since 2006, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov remains the number one in the ex-Soviet Caspian nation despite handing over the presidency to his son Serdar in 2022.

The trip to Paris is a highly unusual visit abroad by Berdymukhamedov, who is the subject of a cult of personality at home and has penned numerous books including, most recently, one honouring his own achievements.

New York-based Human Rights Watch says in its 2024 World Report that Turkmenist...