Korea, Italy agree to bolster tech, AI, space cooperation at summit

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Korea, Italy agree to bolster tech, AI, space cooperation at summit

Published: 08 Nov. 2023, 19:05 Updated: 08 Nov. 2023, 22:16

SARAH KIM
kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, shakes hands with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at their bilateral summit at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul on Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Italian President Sergio Mattarella agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in fields including advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, hydrogen and space Wednesday.

"Both countries share the universal values of freedom, human rights and rule of law and have steadily developed friendly cooperative relationships in various fields," Yoon said in a joint press conference at the Yongsan presidential office in Seoul alongside Mattarella after their summit talks.

"President Mattarella and I confirmed that the security of the Indo-Pacific region and Europe are inseparable, and as a part of such solidarity, we decided to further strengthen mutual cooperation."

He noted that Korea and Italy have "excellent manufacturing capabilities and cutting-edge technology, so there is great potential for growth in trade and investment between the two countries."

Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee greeted Mattarella, accompanied by his daughter Laura Mattarella on his state visit to Korea, in a welcome ceremony around 4 p.m. at the Yongsan presidential office.

Yoon and Mattarella sat for bilateral talks, attended a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony and took part in a joint press briefing.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, center right, and first lady Kim Keon Hee, and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, center left, and his daughter Laura Mattarella, wave at an official welcoming ceremony ahead of their bilateral summit at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The two sides discussed future-oriented cooperation, including economic, space, science and technology cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

The visit comes ahead of the 140th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy next year.

Ahead of this anniversary, Yoon said in the joint press briefing, "It is very meaningful to announce to you the beginning of a new journey in the relationship between our two countries."

The two countries established a strategic partnership in 2018.

Since then, 1 million Korean tourists visited Italy in 2019, and the two countries conducted $13.5 billion in trade last year, the highest figure ever despite coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the presidential office.

The two countries signed an MOU on industrial cooperation between Korea and Italy, which Yoon said will "serve as a foundation for promoting the next generation of industrial cooperation."

Korea's Institute for Basic Science and Italy's National Institute of Nuclear Physics also signed an MOU to expand joint research in basic science.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, speaks at a joint press briefing alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella after their bilateral summit at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

"Our two countries have been closely cooperating not only economically but also on the international stage, including at the G7 and G20," Yoon said at the beginning of the summit. "In particular, Italy has consistently supported South Korea's efforts regarding the North Korean issue."

He also recognized Italy as "a grateful ally that treated 230,000 military and civilian patients as a medical support country" during the 1950-53 Korean War.

Some 128 Italian doctors, nurses and officers served in Red Cross Field Hospital No. 68 during the war.

"Italy and Korea are continuously making efforts to cooperate with each other, in areas including democracy and free market economy," Mattarella said. "We need bilateral cooperation not only at the economic level, but also in various fields to promote these important values and at the cultural level. I believe that is why Italy and Korea have become strategic partners."

He expressed hope that "the friendship between Korea and Italy will become stronger through my visit," formally inviting Yoon to visit his country.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mattarella arrived at the Seoul Air Base and was greeted by an honor guard, beginning a three-day state visit to Korea upon Yoon's invitation.

Yoon later hosted Mattarella for a state dinner.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, gives a toast to Italian President Sergio Mattarella at a state banquet at the Blue House Yeongbingwan state guest house in central Seoul Wednesday, attended by business executives including Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

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