President Lee Jae-myung and Italian Prime Minister Jorja Meloni shake hands at an expanded meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on the 19th. [Yonhap News] 사진 확대 President Lee Jae-myung and Italian Prime Minister Jorja Meloni shake hands at an expanded meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on the 19th. [Yonhap News]

President Lee Jae-myung met with Italian Prime Minister Jorja Meloni on the 19th and said, “If the traditional strengths of Italy, a science powerhouse, and the core DNA of Korea, a technology powerhouse, join forces, it will create great synergy.”

“Cooperation between the two countries in high-tech industries such as aerospace and defense industries continues to increase,” President Lee said at a summit with Prime Minister Meloni at the Blue House’s main building.

President Lee recounted the history of bilateral relations, which began with Italy’s dispatch of medical support units during the Korean War, and that the friendship between the two countries developed into a strategic partnership in 2018 and is now South Korea’s fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union.

It was introduced that human exchanges are also becoming more active, with 1 million Koreans visiting Italy annually and an increasing number of Italians visiting Korea due to the popularity of K-culture.

“I hope the two countries will jointly respond to global challenges, including the climate crisis, and strengthen the base of cooperation as a value-sharing country,” he said. “As a soft power power powerhouse with high cultural power, I hope that opportunities for Korean and Italian people to build stronger friendships will increase in many ways.”

Above all, there is no driving force to strengthen friendly relations as much as meeting often. After seeing the prime minister several times, I think we are a very old friend now,” he said, adding, “Through this visit to Korea and my visit to Italy in the future, the reciprocal and future-oriented cooperative relationship between the two countries will expand and develop.”

President Lee Jae-myung speaks at an expanded meeting with Italian Prime Minister Jorja Meloni at Cheong Wa Dae on the 19th. [Yonhap News] 사진 확대 President Lee Jae-myung speaks at an expanded meeting with Italian Prime Minister Jorja Meloni at Cheong Wa Dae on the 19th. [Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Meloni also responded, “Korea and Italy are geographically far away but share similarities,” adding, “We share the same values in terms of pursuing novelty such as creativity and innovation based on traditional values.”

“The two countries should further explore which areas are capable of developing with infinite potential,” he said, citing key mineral supply chains, semiconductors, transportation and infrastructure, and investment as areas for future cooperation expansion.

In particular, regarding key minerals, he said, “We need to urgently pursue joint research strategically.” Regarding the investment sector, he also mentioned, “We are trying to create an environment in which large Korean companies such as robotics and ultra-small electronics can operate in Italy.”

Prime Minister Meloni said, “I have always thought very positively about President Lee’s pragmatic approach, so I always want to hear from you about the international crisis situation or current issues we are facing,” adding, “I hope you will visit Italy as a state guest.”