During his visit to Europe, Korean National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik met with officials from the Italian Parliament on October 7 (local time) to discuss economic and industrial cooperation, cultural and human exchanges, and ways to enhance parliamentary collaboration between the two countries.
According to Yonhap News, Speaker Cho praised the elevation of bilateral relations to a "special strategic partnership" and noted that cooperation in future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, space, and defense is rapidly expanding.
Earlier, during a summit in June, South Korea and Italy upgraded their 2018 "strategic partnership" to a "special strategic partnership" for the first time in eight years and adopted a strategic action plan.
Cho urged support for Korean companies operating in Italy, emphasizing the importance of their stable activities and contributions to both economies.
He also highlighted the significance of parliamentary exchanges for the development of bilateral relations and formally invited Speaker Lorenzo Fontana to visit South Korea ahead of the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul.
Fontana expressed gratitude for the invitation and agreed on the importance of parliamentary exchanges, stating that cooperation between the two countries in various economic sectors, including semiconductors, could be actively pursued.
Additionally, Cho presented Fontana with a traditional liquor set and K-beauty products as gifts.
On the same day, Cho also met with Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican, and Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik, promising support from the National Assembly for the upcoming 2027 World Youth Day.
The World Youth Day, organized by the Catholic Church, is the largest youth event globally. It is set to take place in Seoul in 2027, marking the second time it will be held in Asia and the first time in a non-Catholic country, with an expected participation of up to 1 million young people from around the world.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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