President Lee Jae Myung on June 14 gives a speech at a special Mass for peace and solidarity at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.

By Hong Angie
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Lee Jae Myung, who is on a tour of Europe, on June 14 said, "I intend to do everything within my power to move beyond the (Korean) armistice and build a sustainable peace regime (on the Korean Peninsula)."

He said this in a speech at a special Mass for peace and solidarity at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome officiated by Korean Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik.

President Lee expressed his strong determination to deliver a message of peace and solidarity from Korea to a world increasingly marked by division and confrontation. "I will also continue steady efforts to prevent accidental military clashes between the two Koreas and restore military trust," he added.

Mentioning the 26th anniversary this year of the two Koreas' June 15 Joint Declaration of 2000, he also pledged to sustain hope for inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation through preemptive measures for easing tension.

President Lee thanked the Vatican for its consistent support for inter-Korean peace and praised the role of the Korean Catholic Church as a pillar of support during difficult periods in Korean society.

He also pledged his full support for Seoul's hosting of the 2027 World Youth Day, saying, "My administration will do its best to ensure that young people from around the world can participate without hindrance from national borders."

Korea will be the second Asian country to host the event as well as the first where Catholicism is not the majority religion.

President Lee Jae Myung (left) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on June 12 shake hands at a welcoming ceremony hosted by the latter at the garden of the Villa Madama in Rome.

Earlier on June 12, President Lee attended his third summit with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Both leaders held a small group meeting and later signed four memorandums of understanding on reinforcing bilateral cooperation in bilateral development, advanced science and technology and information and communications technology, the social and solidarity economy, and small and medium enterprises and small business owners.

On June 11, President Lee received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, Italy's highest government honor, at a state banquet hosted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella. This was President Lee's first award from a foreign government since taking office.

The decoration goes to Italians and foreign heads of state who have made notable contributions in fields such as science, arts and economy.

"Bilateral trade keeps growing and our scope of cooperation is also broadening in future industries," President Lee said at the banquet. "Based on shared values and mutual understanding, I look forward to our two countries cooperating more closely for the peace and prosperity of the international community."

shong9412@korea.kr