New york: President Lee Jae Myung met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Wednesday to discuss ways to bolster bilateral cooperation, Lee's office said. During the talks, Lee underscored the need for the two countries to deepen "mutually beneficial" cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence and defense, building on their strategic partnership, the office said in a release.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Meloni took note of progress in bilateral trade and investment, highlighting the strong potential for further economic cooperation. She also expressed her hope to visit South Korea at the earliest opportunity to advance practical cooperation, and invited Lee to visit Italy at his convenience.

The two leaders agreed that South Korea and Italy have played a constructive role on the international stage amid complex global challenges, and pledged to further deepen their cooperation, the office noted.