President Lee: "South Korea and Italy Should Navigate Global Economic Uncertainty Together"

President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a state visit to Italy, stated, "South Korea and Italy are truly optimal partners," adding, "I hope we can navigate global economic uncertainty together based on our mutually complementary cooperative relationship."

President Lee attended the 'Korea-Italy Business Roundtable' held at a hotel in Rome and emphasized, "Technological hegemony competition is intensifying due to the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, and the international economic order is changing rapidly due to the reorganization of supply chains."

President Lee said, "As uncertainty increases, a network with a reliable partner will determine the competitiveness of companies and, furthermore, the industrial and technological competitiveness of the entire nation."

President Lee explained, "If Italy, a powerhouse in basic science with strong design capabilities, and South Korea, a powerhouse in advanced manufacturing, join forces, synergy is possible to design a new industrial order and innovation ecosystem together."

He continued, "Italy is South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union (EU), and considering the economic scale and manufacturing capabilities of both countries, there is sufficient room for further expansion in trade and investment."

He further diagnosed, "Cooperation in strategic high-tech industrial fields, which are the foundation for future growth engines such as AI, semiconductors, and aerospace, is a key task," adding, "Building a robust supply chain together in the energy and infrastructure sectors to support these high-tech industries is also a truly important task."

In particular, he predicted, "The two countries have a very high level of mutual affinity for each other's cultures. This bilateral affinity will be a great asset for cooperation between the two countries," and added, "Cooperation in consumer goods sectors, including bio, healthcare, cosmetics, and food, is also very promising."

Addressing the attendees that day, President Lee said, "It is a pleasure to meet the business leaders who play a pivotal role in the relationship between South Korea and Italy. The future of the industrial and economic development of both countries rests in the hands of the business leaders gathered here," and added, "I hope you can share the experience and wisdom you have felt in the field and seize new opportunities for cooperation."

He also called for productive discussions, saying, "I am delighted to discuss the future cooperation between our two countries in Italy, which has achieved a leap in civilization through the combination of art, science, creativity, and reason. I am confident that if we join our hearts, one plus one will not be two, but much more."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.