President Lee Jae Myung (fourth from right) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (fourth from left) on Jan. 19 hold an extended summit at Cheong Wa Dae.

By Kim Hyelin
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Lee Jae Myung on Jan. 19 in a summit with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Cheong Wa Dae agreed to expand bilateral cooperation focused on cutting-edge sectors like semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) and the defense industry.

In a joint news release announced immediately after their talks, President Lee said both sides agreed to develop bilateral relations to a future-oriented level befitting the term "strategic partnership."

Prime Minister Meloni stressed the need to boost their economic partnership based on mutual trust to create more added value.

On economic cooperation, the two countries pledged to expand trade and investment and revive a bilateral business forum with companies from both countries as a platform to create more opportunities and resolve corporate difficulties. They also agreed to bolster cooperation to develop and support small and medium enterprises based on Italy's well-established ecosystem for such businesses.

In science and technology, both sides agreed to expand joint research and exchanges of researchers in basic and applied fields, as well as broaden the scope of cooperation to cutting-edge industries such as AI and aerospace.

They agreed in the defense industry to continue complementary cooperation by leveraging each other's strengths and use multilateral dialogue platforms such as the Mineral Security Partnership to boost joint efforts to develop supply chains for core minerals.

Turning to international security, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and permanent peace and prosperity. They also pledged continued cooperation for global peace and stability through multilateral platforms such as the G20 and G7 groups of advanced and emerging economies.

The summit also raised the need to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The two countries agreed to stimulate exchanges between their citizens such as expanding Korean-language audio guides at leading tourist attractions in Italy and bolster cultural exchanges such as exhibitions and performances.

With Italy set to host next month the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, President Lee requested more attention to the safety of the national team and Korean nationals, while Prime Minister Meloni said she hoped that he make a state visit to her country.

President Lee Jae Myung (right) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Jan. 19 hold a joint news conference after their summit at Cheong Wa Dae.