Italian president due in Seoul for talks on cooperation

SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- Italian President Giorgio Napolitano will come to
South Korea on a state visit next week, the first Italian president to do so
since the countries established diplomatic ties 125 years ago, Seoul's
presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.
Napolitano and his wife are due here Sunday on a four-day trip that comes at an
invitation from his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak.
"President Lee and President Napolitano will hold a summit on Monday to discuss
ways to increase substantial cooperation between South Korea and Italy in various
fields, including political, economic, cultural and science sectors," Cheong Wa
Dae said in a press release.
President Napolitano is the first Italian head of state to visit Seoul since the
countries established ties in 1884, it said.
Silvio Berlusconi, the prime minister of Italy, serves as the head of government.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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