President Lee: "Korea and Italy Are in a Complementary Relationship... Let's Build Nations Beneficial to Each Other"

Expanded Luncheon Talks with Prime Minister Meloni:
"Advancing Cooperation in Free Trade and Multilateralism"
Discussing Collaboration in Defense, Space, and High-Tech Industries
Full-Scale Implementation of the Strategic Action Plan

During his state visit to Italy, President Lee Jae-myung met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on June 12 (local time) and stated, "I hope that we can create a Korea that is beneficial to Italy and an Italy that is beneficial to Korea, together." He expressed his intention to further concretize practical cooperation in areas such as defense, space, and high-tech industries, following the elevation of bilateral relations to a "special strategic partnership."

President Lee Jae-myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shook hands ahead of the MOU signing ceremony at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Rome, Italy on June 12, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

At the expanded luncheon meeting with Prime Minister Meloni held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Rome that day, President Lee remarked, "It has been three days since I arrived in Italy, and I feel deeply moved," adding, "The people of Italy and Korea are emotionally similar and get along well with each other."

He especially presented a rules-based international order, free trade, and multilateralism as common foundations for bilateral cooperation. President Lee stated, "We previously discussed the importance of a rules-based international order, and I hope we can work together to further develop cooperation in areas such as free trade and multilateralism."

He continued, "I believe it is necessary to establish a new framework for cooperation, which makes the development of our bilateral relationship even more meaningful," and emphasized, "We are in a complementary relationship, and I believe we can create synergies through our cooperation."

At this summit, defense, space, and high-tech industries were major agenda items. President Lee said, "Recently, we have held detailed discussions regarding defense, satellite and space, and high-tech industries," adding, "Through this, I believe we can accomplish even more beneficial things together."

The two countries agreed to institutionally manage political dialogue, economic and industrial cooperation, science and technology, culture and education, and defense cooperation through the "2026-2030 Korea-Italy Strategic Action Plan" on the occasion of this state visit. In addition, four memorandums of understanding were signed in the fields of advanced science and technology/ICT, small and medium-sized enterprises and microbusinesses, social solidarity economy, and development cooperation, and a follow-up implementation system was established.

In advanced technology, cooperation in future strategic technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, bio and life sciences, and space technology will be promoted. The two countries also agreed to expand participation in international joint research, shared use of research infrastructure, and exchange of trends in science and technology policy and legal systems. In development cooperation, the two sides decided to regularize policy consultations and included plans to launch pilot cooperation projects in Africa in areas such as agriculture and rural development, as well as digital and education training.

At the beginning of the summit, there was a light exchange of congratulations between the two leaders regarding the Korean national football team's victory in its first match at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. When Prime Minister Meloni congratulated the Korean team on their win, President Lee replied, "It is unfortunate that we did not get to play against Italy in the World Cup finals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.