Italian Delegation Meets President Kim after Visit to North

President Kim Dae Jung asked a visiting Italian parliamentary delegation Monday for Italy? support in easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The delegation arrived in Seoul from North Korea, via Beijing, on Sunday after meeting earlier the same day with officials of the North Korean parliament, the Supreme People's Assembly. The seven-member delegation, led by Luciano Violante, president of the Chamber of Deputies, the Italian lower house is in Seoul at the official invitation of Lee Man-sup, National Assembly speaker, but foreign ministry officials also said that the visit was in response to President Kim's request during his March state visit to Italy that the delegation visit both capitals on the divided peninsula.
Kim asked that Italy, which has diplomatic relations with both Koreas, give its full support to the foundation of a peace system on the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean reconciliation. He also said that with Violante's visit, cooperation between the two countries' parliaments would strengthen and bilateral trade and investment would expand.
President Kim thanked the delegation for the warm welcome that he received from Italy during his state visit last spring.