By Lee Hana
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in, in Italy on the second leg of his European tour, and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte held a summit in Rome on Oct. 17. In the summit, the two leaders agreed to upgrade their countries' relationship to a strategic partnership.

In addition, they released a joint press statement that outlines measures that will strengthen economic, cultural and interpersonal ties, and that will increase cooperation on regional and international issues.

In the realm of diplomacy, the two leaders agreed to upgrade the policy meetings between their foreign ministries, renaming them as "strategic talks." These vice-ministerial strategic talks will commence in 2019.



Moreover, the two countries signed bilateral agreements outlining strengthened cooperation on industrial technology and energy, defense, and aeronautics.

The two leaders also reaffirmed their support of free trade and multilateralism, and recognized that a process of peaceful denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula requires the support and contribution of the international community.

"As part of the agreements made during the U.S.-North Korea summit, Pyeongyang has destroyed the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and has promised to destroy a missile testing site at Dongchang-ri as well. Should the United States carry out reciprocal measures, North Korea will also destroy its major nuclear weapons facilities, under global supervision," said President Moon.

"Once this happens, we will be that much closer to achieving denuclearization. To push North Korea along the path to denuclearization, we need the full support of the international community," he stressed.

"Bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula is an important task, and you are writing a page in history," said Prime Minister Conte in response.

Finally, President Moon requested that Italy take an interest in excluding Korean imports from the European Union's provisional safeguard duties on steel.

Earlier in the day, President Moon also met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella to discuss issues related to the Korean Peninsula, as well as measures to increase cooperation in trade and commerce.

hlee10@korea.kr