S. Korea, Italy agree to increase cooperation, economic ties

SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and visiting
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation
and work together for an early signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between
South Korea and the European Union.

"President Lee welcomed the Italian president's trip here, the first of its kind
in 125 years since the countries established diplomatic ties in 1884, and noted
that bilateral exchanges and cooperation between the countries in various fields
including political, economic and cultural sectors have steadily improved,"
Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.
The South Korean leader then called for bilateral cooperation in fighting the
global financial crisis as Rome currently heads the G-8 forum of advanced
nations, it said. Seoul is set to take the chairmanship of the larger G-20 forum
next year.
Napolitano, 83, agreed on the need to increase joint efforts between the two
countries.
South Korea is set to open a multi-billion-dollar fashion district, called Milano
Design City, near Incheon International Airport in the city of Incheon in 2017.
President Napolitano said the opening of the new shopping and design center,
along with a new Italian embassy building here, will significantly contribute to
the future-oriented development of the relationship between the countries, Cheong
Wa Dae said.
"President Napolitano also called for an expansion of cooperation between the two
countries in the cultural and exhibition industry sectors," it added.
Lee thanked the Italian head of state for the country's recent support, expressed
during Lee's trip to the Italian capital in July, for the Korea-EU FTA and called
for additional efforts by the countries to sign the trade deal in the near
future.
The leaders also agreed to work closely together to successfully host the world
expositions to be held in South Korea's Yeosu in 2012 and Italy's Milano in 2015,
according to Cheong Wa Dae.
Napolitano expressed support for Seoul's policy on the denuclearization of North
Korea and said his country will work closely with South Korea to implement U.N.
Security Council Resolution 1874, it said.
The U.N. resolution was adopted earlier in the year to punish North Korea for its
second atomic test conducted in May.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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