President Moon Jae-in, who is currently in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, met with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni today following his consecutive summits with Czech President Zeman, British Prime Minister May and Senegalese President Sall yesterday. During the Korea-Italy summit, the two leaders had extensive discussions on how to promote traditionally friendly cooperation, how to enhance substantive collaboration and how to work together on regional and global issues.

The two leaders noted that Korea and Italy had maintained a solid and robust relationship over more than 130 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties. They agreed that, building on this achievement, the two countries should continue to step up friendly and cooperative relations.

Importantly, President Moon gave high marks to Italy for providing active support to our North Korea policy in its capacity as Chair of the G7, a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and Chair of the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea. He also made a high evaluation of the country for playing a constructive role in the process of discussing the North Korean nuclear issue at the G7 and Security Council level. Prime Minister Gentiloni reaffirmed his country’s full support for the Korean Government’s policy and stance.

Mentioning the need for the international community to be united in strongly responding to the North`s provocations, the two leaders agreed to work together more closely to ensure that the North Korean nuclear issue is resolved in a peaceful, fundamental and comprehensive manner as early as possible. 

President Moon next expressed the hope that cultural exchanges and cooperation between the peoples of the two nations would be further deepened and asked Italy, a winter sports powerhouse, to take much interest and participate in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Wishing the upcoming Olympics a success, the Italian Prime Minister pledged to work together and provide necessary assistance. 

Noting that the two countries were among the dozen or so largest trading nations in the world and that trade between them rose to US$8 billion following the effectuation of the Korea-EU FTA, President Moon proposed that Korea and Italy, an SME powerhouse, enhance cooperation between SMEs of the two nations on exchanges of technology, human resources and management know-how. 

Anticipating increased cooperation in the areas of SMEs, the defense industry and agricultural and livestock products, Prime Minister Gentiloni said he would promote mutual visits of and consultations between related ministers of both nations.   

President Moon expressed his gratitude to Italy for sending a medical services team to Korea during the Korean War. Commenting that peoples of the two countries, both situated on a peninsula, had similar dispositions, the President said Koreans were familiar with Italian music, arts, culture, food and soccer, among other things. 

With the summit today, President Moon has had a bilateral summit with the heads of state and government of all G7 nations at least once since his inauguration.