Seoul, Jan 19 (NationPress) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are poised to engage in summit discussions on Monday. The focus of their talks will be on enhancing collaboration in trade, investment, and advanced technologies, notably artificial intelligence.

Meloni's arrival in South Korea on Saturday marks the beginning of her three-day official visit as part of her tour across Asia, which also includes destinations like Japan and Oman.

During the summit, the leaders plan to explore avenues to fortify cooperation in sectors such as trade, investment, artificial intelligence, defence, and semiconductors, according to statements from Cheong Wa Dae.

This meeting will be their second summit after their initial encounter during the UN General Assembly in New York last September.

It's noteworthy that this is the first visit by an Italian leader to Seoul for bilateral summit discussions in 19 years. Furthermore, Meloni is the first European leader to engage with South Korea since Lee assumed office in June of last year.

Italy ranks as South Korea's fourth-largest trading partner within the European Union, with approximately 1 million South Koreans visiting Italy annually, as reported by Cheong Wa Dae and Yonhap.

In their previous meeting, Lee emphasized the necessity for both nations to enhance 'mutually beneficial' cooperation in domains such as artificial intelligence and defence, aiming to build on their strategic partnership.

Meloni acknowledged the advancements in bilateral trade and investment, pointing out the robust potential for increased economic collaboration. She also expressed her desire to revisit South Korea soon to foster practical cooperation and extended an invitation for Lee to visit Italy at his convenience.

Both leaders agreed that South Korea and Italy have played a vital role on the global stage amid intricate international challenges, committing to further deepen their cooperation, as highlighted by their office.