“Korea-Italy industrial and space cooperation MOU signed”
“Declaration of 2024-2025 Year of Cultural Exchange between Korea and Italy”
President Yoon Seok-yeol said on the 8th, “South Korea and Italy have agreed to continue to cooperate closely in the future to denuclearize Korea and improve human rights issues,” adding, “North Korea’s nuclear and missile development is a serious threat to international security beyond the Korean Peninsula, and the United Nations (UN) “It is a direct violation of the Security Council resolution.”
On this day, President Yoon held a summit meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is on a state visit to Korea, at the Yongsan Presidential Office and made a joint press statement, saying, “Amid today’s increasingly complex global crisis, solidarity and cooperation between countries that share the value of freedom are essential.” “It is very important,” he said. “From this perspective, Korea and Italy have decided to continue cooperation on major international and regional issues.”
He added, “Korea and Italy will support the international community’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine and restore peace and work in solidarity together.” “We decided to further strengthen mutual cooperation.”
President Yoon Seok-yeol is talking with President Sergio Mattarella at the Korea-Italy summit held at the Presidential Office Building in Yongsan on the 8th. 2023.11.8. Provided by the President’s OfficeOn this day, President Yoon said, “The two countries have built friendship and trust over a long period of time,” and added, “Italy is a grateful friend who opened the 68th Red Cross Hospital in Seoul during the Korean War and treated about 230,000 military and civilian patients.” mentioned.
At the same time, “the establishment of a ‘strategic partnership’ in 2018, the visit of 1 million Korean tourists to Italy in 2019, and despite the aftermath of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), annual trade worth $13.5 billion last year, the highest ever. “This achievement shows the continued development of the relationship between the two countries,” he said.
He then mentioned the memorandum of understanding on industrial cooperation between Korea and Italy signed that day and said, “This MOU will serve as a foundation for promoting next-generation industrial cooperation between the two countries.” He also said, “The two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in the space field and cutting-edge technologies such as hydrogen and artificial intelligence.” He added, “The Korea-Italy space cooperation MOU signed today will serve as a foundation for expanding the horizons of space cooperation between the two countries.” “He said. He continued, “Korea’s Institute for Basic Science and Italy’s National Institute of Nuclear Physics also signed an MOU and decided to expand joint research in the field of basic science.”
President Yoon also emphasized that 2024 marks the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, saying, “I welcome the declaration of the 2024-2025 Year of Cultural Exchange between Korea and Italy, and hope that friendship between Korea and Italy through culture will continue.” “I hope it gets even deeper,” he said.
Earlier on this day, an official welcoming ceremony was held in front of the main gate of the Presidential Office to welcome President Mattarella’s state visit to Korea. The Korean national flag and the Italian flag were displayed alternately in front of the main entrance to the Presidential Office, and President Yoon and President Mattarella entered through the main gate side by side. President Yoon’s spouse, First Lady Kim Kun-hee, and President Mattarella’s daughter, Laura Mattarella, followed. The leaders of both sides inspected the honor guard, and a 21-gun salute was fired. At the summit, President Mattarella said, “I hope that the friendship between Korea and Italy will become stronger through my visit, and I formally invite President Yoon to visit Italy.”
Source: Donga
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