Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung held summit talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Monday and discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence. Lee emphasized the potential for collaboration between South Korea and Italy in various advanced industries, such as aerospace and the defense sector, and highlighted joint efforts to tackle shared global challenges like climate change.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee suggested that by merging Italy's strengths in science with South Korea's prowess in technology, the two nations could achieve significant synergy. He expressed optimism about the limitless potential of their bilateral relationship. Lee also stressed the importance of cultural exchanges, viewing them as a form of soft power, and announced plans for a future visit to Italy to further these ties.

Prime Minister Meloni responded by proposing new areas for cooperation, such as critical-mineral supply chains, semiconductors, and infrastructure development. She also showed interest in expanding cultural ties, notably in pop music, mentioning her daughter's admiration for K-pop. During her visit, Meloni paid tribute to Korean War veterans and received a commemorative album from South Korea's veterans ministry.

Meloni's three-day official visit to South Korea marks the first by a European leader since Lee took office last June. The visit is part of her broader Asia trip, which includes stops in Japan and Oman. This summit is their second meeting, following discussions at the U.N. General Assembly in New York last year.

Italy ranks as South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner within the European Union, and about 1 million South Koreans visit Italy annually. The two countries celebrated the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2024.