Italy's president to make state visit to Korea next month

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella speaks during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters to in Quebec, Canada, on Oct. 16. [AP/YONHAP]

Italian President Sergio Mattarella will make a three-day state visit to Korea from Nov. 7 to 9, at the invitation of President Yoon Suk Yeol, the presidential office said Friday.

During the leaders' bilateral summit in Seoul, they are expected to discuss economic cooperation, space, science and technology cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Last month, Yoon held a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, and the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in future industries such as the defense industry, semiconductors, aviation and space.

Yoon returned from a six-day state trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Thursday.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]